A rendezvous with Sudha Pandey
We are glad to inform our members that recently we got this amazing opportunity to interact with Mrs. Sudha Pandey, Principal, Gyan Kunj Academy, Ballia. She is a pioneer in establishing an institute of education, providing hundreds of students from rural areas an access to state of the art educational facility. Gyan Kunj Academy is a CBSE affiliated School located at sub-urbs of Banshi Bazar.
We are sharing a brief excerpt of our interview with her, with a hope to inspire more people to delve into socially meaningful enterprises.
How did you get your idea or concept for entering to education sector?
Teaching has always been my passion, and because of this I used to take tuition for school students. When I relocated to Balia I realised that the education facilities, government or private schools, near my maternal home were not good. At once this motivated me to take up this opportunity.
What was your mission at the outset?
My mission was to provide economical and best education by honest means.
How many employees at present?
120 teaching staff and 70 non teaching staff.
Initially, How did you advertise your business?
We publicized through word of mouth, and when we got 125 students we worked hard to exceed our expectations.
What do you look for in an employee?
Clarity of concept in subject matter and adequate psychological skills to students' learning & development. Besides this honesty is an important virtue I look out for while recruiting for the school
How do you work with people from different background and culture. What are the challenges and how you overcome them?
Cultural background is almost similar for all people here, but there is lack of parental education. The parents here do not realize their importance in overall upbringing o =f their child.They feel their duty is limited to pay fees and send the ward to school. I spend a lot of time with the parents, guiding and coaching them so that they can go cooperate with the school for their wards growth.
Do you work locally or nationally?
Locally.
What is unique about your business?
-People trust us.
-We have an open and transparent policy.
-We provide maximum benefits at minimum cost.
-Our aim is the best education for children of this area.
What are your key responsibilities as the principal?
Safety of students. Moral and Value based education which focus on character & personality development. An education which is totally career oriented and practical not limited to academics alone.
Does the school help the community where it is located?
Yes, we continue to partner in many social initiatives like organizing health camps, eye check up camps, and organizing community marriages.
If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?
Be honest with your profession and be a hard-worker!
If you wish to know more, feel free to get in touch with her through the website Gyan Kunj Academy or email her.
