Learning from experience and leading by example

Updated on: Thursday, December 22, 2011

“Everything is an experience, whether it is painful or pleasing,” says principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya Mr Prabha Karan, who recently came from the KV in Lakshadweep to assume duties as principal of KV Coimbatore.

Karan’s father was a teacher in a govt school in Tirupathur near Vellore and he worked hard right through school and college, working his way up from a primary teacher to a principal.

He says, “When I went to college to attend my training in the Regional Institute of Education in Mysore, I felt a bit out of place, people around me had good command over English. I had my own shortcomings with regards to personality; they could express themselves better which I admired, and I learnt a lot from my experience because it only made it easier for me to be a teacher, so I worked hard on that and my first interview was for a K.V. school where I landed my first job as a primary school teacher.”

“From there I have moved to different KVs across the country, teaching mostly as PGDP teacher — 11th and 12th standard. I was offered a posting as principal in the Coimbatore centre and I took up the challenge.”

“Last year the Coimbatore KV achieved a 100 per cent pass result and that is something that I hope to achieve. There is something truly remarkable about our school system; the result not only involves the principal but the regional headquarters in Chennai as well. We have a well-planned system and we spend a lot of time interacting with various agencies to chalk out a plan to get these results,” he adds.

Karan has taught all over India and has many memories. “In every region that I have taught, I have always taken back a memory, but the one that lingers in my head is one of Manipur. There if you are in the company of a lady, you are the safest person, it is a remarkable culture and they give utmost respect to women,” he said.

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