Step by Step

So, we visited step by step to see if we could admit our kid there. Prior to going there, we visited Vibgyor, Neev and other (play)schools in Whitefield area. To talk to anybody (principal, management) in Neev, you are supposed to pick up a form that is posted outside the school gate, fill it up, get a number to get an appointment to meet the principal later some other time . They don t give any appointments over the phone and you are _required_ to visit them to get the appointment. Makes me wonder whats going on there? Vibgyor charges 78k for nursery which includes 20k admission fees (read donation) and 58k for other fees. Because I did not bother to take an appointment to take an appointment (you read it right), I don t know what the fee structure there is. If anybody is aware of the fee structure in Neev, please do post.

Now, coming back to Step by step, the principal was nice enough to return a call and agreed upon a time to meet after school hours. The school is housed in a 50x80 or slightly bigger plot in dream meadows, Kundalahalli. You have to go past Ryan International to get there. There is a lawn, lots of plants (that the kids apparently grow there) and a two leveled building with clay tiles on the first level. The principals office is located there.

Apparently, the principal has about 20 years (if I got it right) of experience in teaching (in army schools?) From the conversation we had, she moved to Bangalore about 8 years ago, and started a school in defense colony, Indranagar because she was disillusioned with Big schools and their money making motives. Apparently, she closed it down and moved to the current location because she owns the piece of land. She did spend a lot (about an hour) of time with us and spoke the usual child is precious, child need not be pressurized, learn by experiencing, theme based etc with us and was kind enough to take us around and show their facility. Looks like they are trying to follow a mix of the Montessori way of teaching (and? - I did not fully understand what the other way is).

Everything looked reasonable until we arrived at the fee part. The asking fee was about 50k which includes a 12k admission fee (donation) and the remaining 38k goes toward the other fees (development, tuition etc) As per the principal, expect to see a 10% yoy increase in the fee to accommodate teacher salary hikes, other costs etc. Transportation amounts to nothing less than 1k/month and they do provide their own transportation which as per the principal is not outsourced. Looks like a few european kids went to school there and their parents seem to have been happy there as evident from the year/school book that the principal showed us.

Application process included a birth certificate, 6 pictures and 300 INR (just for the application). We did not receive any receipt for that. Well, we did not ask for one! When asked if we could visit the school while it was functional, she was open to it and in fact recommended that we do visit it. So, we need to go check it out.

So, bottom line is that this school is no cheaper than comparable schools in Whitefield area. Comparable is a highly subjective word to use though. Makes me wonder if 38k for play school is worth it. Add a 10% to it and you pay about 42k for nursery, 46k for pre kg and 50k for kg. Thats about 2lakhs and the kid is then all set to go to another school after paying more admission fee there. Assuming the kid wants to go to Vibgyor 4 years later and assuming a 10% increase (only) in admission fee, be ready to shell out atleast 30k towards admission fee and 70k towards tuition fee. So thats 3 lakhs, and the kid is not done with grade 1 yet!

Is the school any better than other comparable schools? Only time will tell.

Welcome to the Bangalore s (elite) schools!

Note: I am giving this school an average rating because I don t know much about it yet. Might change my mind and the rating after I am better informed.

Step by Step is a well concepted thought of Ms Kamal Philip and her ideas of providing a place which offers space, quality and education to the tiny tots are excellent. The school has a wonderful atmosphere, good infrastructure and facilities, and commendable staff. Together they ensure that the child is in safe hands and grow step-by-step without pushing them hard into this otherwise Tightfisted world.

I am very much satisfied with this school and am prooud to recommend this to the parents who would like their children to get the best of the environment.

This is truely would make a world of difference!!!

Regards