School principal Arti Patil has a passion for travel, and she has been able to combine career and hobby
School principal Arti Patil has a passion for travel, and she has been able to combine career and hobby
Impartning education is her forte, and she is passionate about travel. Her career has taken her to different corners of the world.
Arti Patil, who is in her 30s, is the principal of Vidyanchal School in Aundh.
"I like to do things differently. I surf a lot on the Internet. I keep searching for new courses, and would you believe it, I have managed to bag a number of scholarships. In fact, from 10 different countries!" she said.u00a0
Trips on scholarship
She has bagged some interesting scholarships. She went to Israel to do a course in science education in early childhood.
"I have been to NASA twice. Firstly, it was a basic astronaut training programme, followed by another, advanced programme. This experience was really unforgettable," she said.
Other memorable visits were to Finland, Singapore and Korea, to name just a few.
"The midnight sun in Finland was amazing. There was light for 24 hours, but you can adjust very well," she said. "In Finland, I had to study Finnish because they do not speak English."
She has picked up many languages in the process. "Even in Korea it's the same -- they give no importance to English.u00a0 We have some Korean students in school, who are very sharp, and pick up English fast. And, the next thing you know is they are off to the US and other places for higher studies!"
Her travels have made her perceive a difference in the education systems across the world. "We do have a very rich education system, no doubt, but where we fall short is in research, the opportunity to give hands-on experience to students," she said. "Indian students are brighter, more respectful and have a willingness to learn and experiment."
Views on education
Commenting on the concept of education, she said, "I feel the child has to be an all-round personality. Ninety per cent on paper does not help the child in practical areas like facing an interview."
Referring to the current scenario she said, "Children are under tremendous pressure today, and in my school I try to expose them to different areas like drama, excursions, cooking, social service -- so that they are exposed to the dignity of labour -- and other aspects of life."
Patil is very Puneri; she went to school and college here. Though she pursues a number of hobbies like cooking, painting and creating rangoli, she still gives travelling the first priority.
Her close friend Manisha Goveas (34) said, "Arti is a friend, philosopher and my guide. She is friendly with all her students. She has a positive approach to life and is very dedicated and determined."
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