admin Today’s School Education stands completely transformed – it goes beyond character building and knowledge accumulation to developing a keen sense of enquiry, competencies and skills and essentially and most importantly transforming oneself as a lifelong learner.! At Billabong we actively encourage our students to go beyond the syllabus, to do their own research, ask questions, to read around the subject. This not only gets them the best results but in the process make them feel empowered and transcend them into independent and reflective learners.
Shattering Stereotypes
Priti Agarwal, the award-winning Founder & CEO of Kangaroo Kids and Billabong High International School Kanpur, recognized the importance of education, and made significant progress in that sector. She has made significant investments in developing her educational vision through coaching parents and developing teachers alike, whilst also capturing the imagination of young minds.
Education is empowerment, a mindset development which is achieved by creating magic by stoking curiosity through open ended, higher order thinking questions and experiential learning. An encouragement to stay awake and be in the present moment, to challenge and push boundaries of convention and live to the fullest! – Priti Agarwal
Billabong facilitators are empathetic educators, carefully handpicked and trained to go above and beyond their call of duty, they practice social and emotional learning and are deeply invested in the higher education transition of our students – pivoting the end in mind for our students to steer them to achieve and fulfill their true potential. At all times, strongly pivoting independent learning and strong core values of diligence, service, compassion, resourcefulness, commitment and integrity.
Championing Lifelong Learning
Billabong High International School is one of the foremost centers of academic excellence in the country. It earned this reputation not only due to its students unparalleled examination results but also, and more importantly, because of their enjoyment of academic curiosity, opinions and search for explanation beyond the realms of established syllabus. In fact, their curriculum is focused on providing real world skills to their students which necessary to succeed. They have also integrated iPad learning in their school. This is in line with their philosophy that computational thinking is an empowering skill and students who can think computationally are better able to conceptualize, understand and use computer-based technology making them better prepared for today’s world and the future.
Awakening the Heart and Soul of Uttar Pradesh
Priti Agarwal is the first woman to trade on the floor of the UP Stock Exchange (Kanpur). A lawyer, educationist and an entrepreneur, she has earned a prominent place amongst the leading businesswomen and social workers in Northern India. An insightful leader & forward-thinking edupreneur, Priti has joined UCAS and is a part of the Global Career network of UCLA. She has recently implemented the RULER (Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing and Regulating Emotions) program in her schools in association with Yale University. Priti’s academic background is almost as impressive as her career. After being accepted as the solicitor in the Supreme Court of New England and Wales, Priti went on to earn a Master’s in International Law and Legal studies at the University of Westminster.
Lifelong learning is nothing but relentlessly driving what you love doing and accomplishing greatness, one step at a time – Priti Agarwal
Priti watched the progress of her daughter at Kangaroo Kids and got inspired to take the concept to Kanpur. Kangaroo Kids was still in its infancy in Bombay at that time, but Priti saw the potential in it and decided to expand. She realized that there is a dire need to promote educational excellence at schools, which she considers to be the grassroots of education, to nurture cultural sensitivity and global perspectives that would prepare individuals for success in the world. She is a strong advocate of cultural sensitivity. Her vision is to ensure that the excellence in education should not be limited to your birthplace or your financial conditions. Instead, there should be only one deciding factor; competence. The aim is to create a ‘purpose for learning’ and allow children to be thinkers, innovators and problem solvers, to orchestrate experiences that will result in a natural and integrated development of knowledge, skills and thinking.
Triumphs and Tribulations
Over the years, Billabong High International School has garnered several prestigious accolades and awards. They were ranked number 1 International Day School of Uttar Pradesh and Kanpur in the EducationWorld India School Rankings for 8 consecutive years since 2014 till 2021. They were also awarded the International School Award by the British Council, as well as cited as the ‘Tech School of the Year’ at IDA Education Awards. Their innovative teaching styles and use of modern technology has earned them the Best Cambridge School by National Education Awards, along with the Most Innovative International School in Kanpur Award by Merit Awards and Market Research, as well as the 22nd World Education Summit 2021 certificate of recognition. Billabong high International School was awarded National Pride Educational Awards 2022 for Best International School in Uttar Pradesh by Eminent Research. Billabong High was also presented the S Radhakrishnan Sadbhavana Award 2022 by National Achievers Recognition Forum. India’s Most Prominent Indian Icon Awards 2022 was also presented to Billabong High International School for Leading International School in Uttar Pradesh.
Mrs. Priti Agarwal has also received many awards for her exemplary leadership and vision. She has received the Rashtriya Shiksha Ratan Award and the Education Leadership Award for Commitment to Excellence in Education. The National School Awards 2022 was presented to Mrs. Priti Agarwal for Commendable contribution in changing the Education System (Uttar Pradesh). Mrs Priti Agarwal was also awarded the Women Entrepreneur of the year by National Pride Educational Awards 2022. For her achievements, Mrs. Priti Agarwal was also given the Lifetime Achievement Award by National Achievers Recognition Forum.
Forward Thinking for a New Era
These accolades are proof that Billabong spells excellence in education. And even with such high success, Billabong believes that there is still a long way to go. These achievements are short term, the long-term plan is to spread their vision all over the country and ensure every child gets the right kind of education. As Socrates has rightly said, Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.
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