Education Stalwarts 2022 | Rama B Raj, Managing Director of New Age World School | Leaders in Education
Driving towards the emerald green location of NewAge World School, we get a peek into the Managing Director, Mrs. Rama B Raj’s early life. Growing up in lush green places made her an ecologist and preservationist. Her early morning routine includes watering, nourishing and talking to the plants and trees in her flourishing garden. It is a little wonder that NewAge World School is enclosed in the verdant greens.
“My father worked in the Department of Town Planning, Karnataka and was influenced by the British work culture. He was highly disciplined and organized. I developed these two traits from him. My mother taught me not to indulge in excesses, be it in food or attention. Wastage was not tolerated. Though we hailed from a well to do family, there was an intrinsic value attached to everything. This helped me stay well-grounded as I have a similar approach towards most of my undertakings today,” quips Mrs. Rama Raj.
NewAge World School was acquired by her in 2015. Though the acquisition came with some vacant land and basic infrastructure, it also posed numerous challenges. The student strength was extremely low. The potential to develop infrastructure and sports facilities and other arenas looked promising so she proceeded with grit and determination to give it its own distinct character and culture. Despite being completely new to the education sector, her abiding faith in her vision to create an institute of excellence was unshakable. Her husband, Chairman D.H Basavaraju and her young qualified children, Associate Directors, Mr. Rakshit Raj and Mrs. Akshitha Basavaraju teamed up to help her achieve her dreams. “The road seems challenging at times in the face of constant change happening around but the dream keeps us inspired and going.”
The school’s logo depicts three petals that represent the never-ending quest for knowledge that we share with our students, teachers and parents. Parents and teachers are an integral part of the learning process and their contribution to the holistic development of the child cannot be underestimated.
Sports and fitness have always had a special spot in Mrs. Raj’s heart and once the massive football field, badminton and tennis courts, cricket pitches, the half-Olympic size pool, and the indoor sporting arena were in place, she announced the annual Sportivo, an inter school sports event. One hour is kept aside every day for sports. To spot talent on the sports field, the intraschool NewAge Games is held annually. “If a child has talent in a particular field, he/she should be able to pursue it wholeheartedly and study as well.” Parental and school support go a long way as Mrs. Rama Raj has experienced it herself. Her daughter, Ms. Akshitha Basavaraju was an international tennis player and a gold medalist in her MBA program, and was also adjudged ‘The Best Achiever’.
NewAge World School encourages students to hone their passion/skills along with academics and offers academic support to them for the time they spend away from school pursuing that passion. The school attaches importance to senior students and the alumni teaching and guiding the younger ones. Going beyond the classroom and textbooks is a regular norm. To bridge the academic gap within the classrooms, ‘Focus Groups’ are created for those children who find academics challenging.
NewAge Department of Excellence in Education – NDEE
In the current scenario, technology is an infused part of the learning process. Constantly evolving, keeping abreast with the changing technology, adapting it to the best interest of the learner is what the school strives for. With this in mind, the NDEE – NewAge Department of Excellence in Education was launched in 2018, hence the shift to online teaching during the pandemic was an easy transition.
The NDEE became the backbone when learning transcended into the virtual mode. Presentations, videos, digitalized lesson plans aided both synchronous and asynchronous learning. The NDEE encapsulated the weekly learning that had taken place in the form of learning capsules through which parents were briefed during the pandemic. We realized that online lessons would increase their screen time and they would also miss out on socio-emotional connect completely. Facial and eye exercises, stretches, yoga and dance classes were conducted online and the gaps in between classes gave them respite from gazing at a screen constantly. Discussions in groups and presentations were other means of collaborative learning.
A leader has an idea, a vision and strategies but it is the team that enables the success of these. The team leader must walk the talk to keep the team motivated and inspired. “A leader must uncover talent, delegate responsibilities according to unique capabilities of team members and lead by personal examples,” opines Mrs. Rama Raj. Creating leaders from the existing human resource keeps the team motivated. Effecting delegation while giving freedom generates more leaders. The key is to trust them, believe in their ability to deliver and support them.
When asked how she is a role model for her team, Mrs. Raj remarked, “A leader is under observation, hence modelling cordiality with a mild degree of firmness, discipline, punctuality and dealing with situations keeping the child in mind is my way of being a role model for my team.”
Appreciation and recognition keep a team inspired and motivated to deliver consistently. When given leadership roles, they get an opportunity to prove their mettle beyond their domains. “When your team and you echo a common dream, you develop the ethos of the school. Create a team, delegate effectively after you know their strengths and often look for answers within your team. Be open to new ideas and discussions keeping the taught in mind. I want to send happy, confident and independent Newageans to take on the challenges of a rapidly changing world,” says Mrs. Rama Raj cheerfully.
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