The ALIVE Test

Measuring What Truly Matters to be a Good School

As an 18-year-old, I still have much to learn about shaping a school's educational ecosystem and developing an effective curriculum. However, I am committed to exploring these areas soon. I indeed have a word to share, as it is needed for the hour. 

In the education community, school rankings are becoming increasingly prevalent. The rankings by different agencies rely on metrics such as the number of students scoring above the 90th percentile, the success of alums in prestigious colleges, and the school's square meter area. Schools find it easy to compile and present these metrics to management, using them to highlight their position in seminars and events. The rankings have led to a widespread acceptance of these metrics as indicators of a school defining it as a Good School, and now it has entered into the consciousness of the school system. Do these metrics provide a straightforward way to assess and improve a school's ranking?

I believe there is more to add to define a good school. I propose a new metric to define it: THE ALIVE TEST for anyone involved in the education ecosystem—parents, students, teachers, principals, directors, or chairpersons.

It is an easy test to conduct whenever you visit a school or an education institute; take a moment to see its heart—the library. Observe if it is vibrant and well-maintained. Check if the library is bustling with activity, if students actively engage with the books, and if it is a learning hub. This new metric should be on the school website, and the school management committee must report and proudly announce it at events.

Quantitative measures for this metric could include:

• The number of non-scholarly books issued to students each year.

• The footfall in the library.

• How many students have genuinely engaged with the books they read

If you find the heart (library) is not operating, it indicates that the institution is merely operating like a factory, churning out standardized outputs with no real engagement or innovation. A thriving library is a sign of a "My Good School," one that fosters a love for learning and critical thinking. One which holds the Joy of Learning 

As members of the Education Community, it's crucial to reevaluate how we define and rank schools and consider them to build your My Good School.

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Kunal Rajpurohit a Fellow and Analyst, is pursuing the Fellowship Program at the Learning Forward India Foundation. His focus is measuring the impact of My Good School and how the Good Schools Alliance is working to transform education in India.

Photo: Kunal at work at The Fabindia School Library