Robotics, book writing and many such new things, which were not present in the school curriculum before, have been introduced by some of the institutions to make students better equipped for the future. The Telegraph highlights some of these new initiatives of the city schools

Birla Open Mind School

Special feature: Birla Open Mind School is the only institution to teach robotics to students. Students assemble and test robotic systems using skills based on mathematics, physics, hydraulics, pneumatics and electronics. Students from classes V to X create robotic systems that are capable of performing a variety of assembly, welding and fabrication tasks. Cleaningbot, welcomebot, trainbot and light censorbot are few of the creations of the students. The school even gets the appreciation reward from International Robotic Company of Japan for one of its creations. 
lStudentspeak: “Through robotic classes we learn a lot of interesting things that provide us an opportunity to receive robotics instruction early in our school life. We have even been taught to make useful things with waste products,” said Shreejit, a Class V student.

Principalspeak: “The robotic classes are compulsory for students from classes V to X. Our faculties are experts in mechanical engineering. Using the computer software, the students write programs for running their creations. Each lesson introduces a new skill, explains why the skill is useful, shows how it’s used, and presents a program that uses that skill,” Rajesh Sarkar, the principal said.

Litera Valley School

Special feature: Litera Valley School is the only one to provide all kinds of facilities to students in sports education. The training covers a wide range of disciplines, including skating, squash, badminton, table tennis, hurdles, gymnasium, swimming, basketball, football and billiard. The school recently adopted a new scheme called RSG (Ready Steady Go) for muscular exercise and stamina development among students. 

Studentspeak: “Sports help to develop obedience, self-confidence and ability to determine winning with extreme will power. Day-to-day practice can help imbibe leadership skills in students,” said Rishab, a Class VI student.

Principalspeak: “It is important for students to have access to sports and games. Training at the tender age will prove fruitful. It increases self-esteem and mental alertness in children. We have also introduced a new scheme — RSG and the trainers are of national-level. They will train the students in rope climbing, board walking 
and basic exercise for the overall physical development of students,” Jaya Prakash, the principal said.

Delhi Public School

Special feature: Book writing has been introduced at the Delhi Public School by the administration. DPS students have proved that imagination itself can help create a world of fantasy and produce a good story. Delhi Public School encourages the students to brush up their writing skills in collaboration with an organisation, Quill Club Writer. Together they help the students in bringing out their own books. From last year, the school have been promoting writing skill among students and help create a unique story. The students wrote a book titled Cobalt blue. This year, the school has encouraged more students to come forward and show their creativity on the pages.

Studentspeak: “I like to read books. I think that reading is the first step towards writing. When I heard about this book writing, I never thought that I would get selected,” said Vipul Kumar, a Class VII student.
lPrincipalspeak: “There are two ways to become a good writer: write a lot, and read a lot. What the students didn’t realise was that these trips into the fantasy worlds and their imaginations were actually training them for their 
career as a writer,” B. Vinod, the school principal said.

Compiled by Faryal Rumi