New Era High School

The New Era High School (or NEHS) is located in Panchgani, a hill station town known as an educational centre, in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is a private co-educational international Baháʼí school, drawing students from all over the world and is under the supervision of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of India.[1]

New Era High School
Location
Chesson Road, Bhim Nagar Panchgani, Maharashtra, India
Information
TypeCo-educational school
Established1945
PrincipalDr A H Mehrassa (M.Sc, B.Ed)
Average class size1-12
Medium of languageEnglish
AffiliationCBSE, IGCSE
Websitewww.nehsindia.org

History

It was founded in August 1945, and was one of the first Baháʼí education projects in India.[1] In the 1970s and 1980s, the school setup programmes to assist the poor and underdeveloped villages in the region.[2] It started as a service project for students and evolved into a separate institution known as the New Era Development Institute in 1987.[3] The National Spiritual Assembly of Norway established an institution - Norwegian Agency for International Development Cooperation - and in 1988 it began a working relationship with the institute, with support for a two-year rural community development program. In 1989, funding was extended to cover a one-year community development facilitators course and short courses on agriculture, rural technology, literacy, and domestic science.

NEHS is one of the top boarding schools in India. It did have a higher secondary school(11th-12th) till 1999, but discontinued it from 2000. Class 11th and 12th have been reintroduced from 2010 and the school offers Science and Commerce fields. The shooting of the film "Taare Zameen Par" took place here. The school played host to "Amul Junior MasterChef Swaad ke Ustaad" (a cooking reality show) where the contestants prepared food for the students of the school. The show was aired on Star Plus on 26 October 2013.[4] Prominent students include Twinkle and Rinke Khanna - daughters of the Indian actress Dimple.

The principal Dr. Mehrassa supervises the school from Canada, Mr. Kalmadi is the acting principal. The school regularly reaches district level in sports such as football, basketball and cricket.[5]

Site and facilities

The present site was moved into in 1953 and consisted of five buildings.[6] A play field and several added dormitories in 1980s gave the school the room to add over 900 students bringing the total student population to over 1000.[3] In the 1990s the campus went through massive infrastructure growth and renovation - gaining its own power plant, campus fencing, intercom system, phone system for students, parents and staff, three wells, solar heating for the dining hall and a large garden. Computers handle student records, accounts, maintenance, personnel, and other administrative areas as well as facilitating student-parent communication.[7]

Programme

Special attention is given to academic excellence, moral education, specifically noted by the Universal House of Justice,[8] values for world citizenship, and social and economic development in rural areas. Subject areas significantly expanded through the 1990s to include advances across the K-12 curriculum with peace and cooperative learning programs, computer training programs and extracurricular sports clubs and educational field trips.[7]

Accreditation and awards

The school was registered with the state in 1954 and the first students took their external examinations in 1958. Gloria Faizi, Abu'l-Qásim Faizi's wife, helped bring the school onto a more financial status by providing leadership and attracting investments.[6] The current accreditation includes the standard ten high school exam of the Central Board of Secondary Education[9] though it is increasingly switching to Indian Certificate of Secondary Education.[10]

The Secondary Section in 2007 received top awards for all of Panchgani (with additional high marks in specific subject areas)[11]

  • 100% passed result with average score of 73.54%
  • Set a new record of highest average 94.6%
  • Number of students appeared - 102
  • 48 students (47%) secured Distinction ( above 75%)
  • 43 students (42%) secured First Class (above 60%)
  • 11 students (11%) secured Second Class

The Secondary Science program won awards in 2003 (National Level Science Talent Search Examination and Best Participation Award in the NSTSE)[12]

The Secondary Computer Science curriculum serves the International General Certificate of Secondary Education.[13]

The Secondary Arts program can support students reaching for the annual Government of Maharashtra Elementary and Intermediate Art Exams.[14]

All topic areas have vocational courses[15]

The school is ranked 64th across India by a broad range of criteria.[16]

In 2005/6, New Era High School two students ranked 857th and 1824th (over 2000 were ranked) across all Indian students competing for the Amul Shakti Vidyashree award.[17]

Primary Section

Along with standard academic and arts subject areas, and multilingual programs begin,[18] a featured area is values education (including Peace Education, Conflict Resolution, and Environmental Education.)

Secondary Section

In addition to the awards winning academic and arts subjects areas, most subject areas develop extension programs - poly-lingual plays, student quiz teams, and community outreach.[19]

The computer system, especially present in the Secondary Section, is Open Source based - highlighting Mandriva 2007 and Fedora Core 7, OpenOffice.org, and GIMP.[13]

School culture

The school developed a residential prefect-oriented system. The prefect body consists of thirty-two students who represent four virtues - Peace, Respect, Harmony and Wisdom. One of the senior students is appointed as Head Girl or Head Boy.[20][21]

The second half of Aamir Khan's film, Taare Zameen Par was shot in the school.[22]

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See also

References
  1. "Background statement of the school". Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  2. History: 1971-1982
  3. History: 1982-1998
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Hansen, Holly; Baháʼí International Community (1999). "Overview of Baháʼí Social and Economic Development". 1992-93 edition of "The Baháʼí World", pp. 229-245. Universal House of Justice. Archived from the original on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  6. History: 1945-1971
  7. History: 1998-2003
  8. letter from the Universal House Of Justice, 30 October 1995, to the school
  9. General Academics
  10. School Boards Compete for Better Academics
  11. Secondary: General Information - highlight of CBSE Results 2007
  12. Academics: Science
  13. Computers, Information & Communication Technology
  14. Arts - Aims, Objectives & Special Programmes
  15. Vocational Courses and Admission criteria
  16. "India's best schools league table". Archived from the original on 27 December 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
  17. Amul Shakti Vidyashree Award - Academic Year 2005-6 List of Winners (All India)
  18. Academics: Second Languages
  19. India Schools : New Era High School, Panchgani
  20. Family Learning Programme - Our School Prefects
  21. Student Associations
  22. "Aamir Khan declined special appearance in 'Om Shanti Om'". apunkachoice.com. 7 October 2007.
  • Rowley, Elizabeth Anne. (1980) New Era High School: an ethnographic study of an International Baháʼí school in India. Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Georgia (Athens), 1980.

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