Envisaged to enable its students not just to be future-ready but to shape the future itself, RBK Educational Institutions stands out as a community school with an entrepreneurial spirit that makes students ready to be empathetic, responsible and dependable global citizens. Coupled with the 21st-century skills that the school imparts, it is the school’s vision to see that its students are grounded in Indian traditions and culture, with an appreciation for other cultures and traditions.
As a community institution, RBK sees itself as a space where the culture of working together strengthens the community. “Our parents regularly contribute to the learning in schools, and there is greater consultation in the shaping of learning within the school. We stand out when it comes to equal emphasis on knowledge and skill, strongly believing in UN’s Sustainable Development goals where our school had enthusiastically participated in Global schools programme, Global Climate Action project, etc.,” shares Niyati Kanakia, the Director of RBK Educational Institutions.
RBK Educational Institutions are accredited by various organisations like the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), Cambridge International, CBSE and CICSE. Two of their International schools are level 2 accredited to offer SAT/PSAT/AP examinations by the College Board, US and also offer International Award for Young People (IAYP) for all students.
RBK Educational Institutions believes that standalone activities cannot promote innovation and creativity. They understand that a culture needs to be developed where creativity and innovation complement each other. At RBK, teachers continuously build a culture of creativity and innovation by providing students with the requisite agency to choose the way they want to approach open-ended problems. This also goes beyond disciplinary domains and becomes more interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary in nature. The school has introduced a STEM programme for primary classes, which also includes Art, Research, Reading, and writing, hence christened as STREAM programme. “Our STREAM programme concentrates on solving open-ended problems that thrive on understanding the interface of Science, Technology, Reading/Research/wRiting, Engineering, Art and Math,” says Ms Niyati.
Additionally, the school understands the need for an educational paradigm to keep up with the changes in professional development that are an inevitable constituent of a school’s functioning. The school conducts induction programmes for new teachers and comprehensive training at the beginning of the year, besides organising regular Continuous Professional Development (CPD). This is above the training conducted by respective educational boards for the teachers.
Though space is a constraint in most schools in and around Mumbai, RBK Educational Institutions have spacious playgrounds with adequate facilities for furthering sports. The schools have state-of-the-art spacious classrooms which are well ventilated with an optimum number of students. The corridors are spacious with fine computer labs, auditoriums, STEM labs, Art studios, etc., making the schools stand out. “Our class sizes vary based on the curriculum we offer; our smallest class size for International Curriculum is 24 students per class. This provides the teacher adequate flexibility in terms of imparting knowledge and skills through hands-on activities and engagements,” shares Ms Niyati.
There are many accolades that RBK is proud of, including their feature of their students in the International Baccalaureate Organizations Annual Conference in Singapore, where they depicted the life of Hellen Keller through a mime. The students of RBK were among the top 2% of schools that excelled in the Climate action project endorsed by scientists and organisations, including Jane Goodall, Amnesty International, Microsoft, WWF, NASA and UNEP. They won various awards in sports, innovation, Art, academics etc. Last academic year, the IB Diploma topper scored a perfect score of 45/45 and the next a 44/45. In the National Curriculum, students consistently score above 98%.
Technology will inevitably find a way into all works of life. The pace of technology integration has quadrupled during the pandemic, and it is here to remain. The education sector is seamlessly integrating technology in the classroom with students and teachers well adapted to the use of technology. This has made education more fun, interactive, and engaging. “Upgrading the facilities to reflect the upmarket image of the organisation and a complete makeover to reflect the progressive nature not just in the vision of RBK Educational Institutions but also in our day-to-day mission. This translates into image makeover with branding, enhancing curriculum offered, capacity building for staff and accelerating the process of the already NEP aligned schools to excel in interdisciplinary approach towards learning,” concludes Ms Niyati.
For More Info: https://rbkei.org/
About Niyati Kanakia, Director, RBK Educational Institutions
Niyati Kanakia is the Director of RBK Educational Institutions, which caters to over 10,000 students and is the founder of Olive Trails, a network of new-age preschools offering play-based learning that nurtures 1,500 toddlers and pre-schoolers. Niyati’s primary goal is to create open-minded, critical thinkers while fostering an environment for creativity and character development.
She obtained her bachelor’s in Business Management before pursuing an LLB from KC Law College. Through her own college and schooling experiences, Niyati developed an interest in the education sector when she witnessed a gaping need for quality programmes in our country. A curious learner herself, she found a surging eagerness to bring world-class education to the young learners of India.
She was felicitated by the esteemed magazine “Forbes India” in their March 2021 edition for her achievements and services rendered to the cause of education. She was also awarded the Indian Achievers Award for being a part of India’s biggest tree plantation drive in the year 2021.
The prestigious Economic Times awarded her with Emerging Leader of Tomorrow in Education for her visionary mindset. She was also awarded Asia’s Youngest Entrepreneur 2020-21, recognised by AsiaOne Group.