A school provides a learning environment to a child where he/she is educated and nurtured to shape their future and develops a better human being. School time is a lifelong experience providing a bundle of memories to cherish for the entire life. In the process of choosing the best education for their child, parents tend to get in a quandary on how to choose between a day school and a residential school.
But before we compare day schools and a boarding school, let’s get a basic understanding of what a residential school and a day school is:
• Day School
A school where students study during the day and return to their homes known as a day school. These types of schools mainly focus on academics where teachers impart education during day hours with curriculum including co-curricular activities like sports, debates and arts.
• Boarding School
A boarding school is a residential school where students stay in the school campus, usually located within the school premises, in hostels away from their family. Students live under the supervision and care of hostel staff, teachers and wardens and visit home during vacations. Students learn to live independently and also participate in various extracurricular activities. Parents also can visit the students based on the timetable shared by the school.
Based on the following criteria, you can decide which school is best for your child, a day or boarding school –
1. Social interaction and learning:
Social skills help the person to communicate their thoughts and connect with other people. Students understand better with peer involvement and interaction. Boarding schools promote social skill development and etiquette of living which makes their manners impeccable. Since one is exposed to different people from varied backgrounds, it gives students a unique perspective on working and living with others, and developing a healthy curiosity about their fellow mates. While in a day school students have limited time to socialize, they tend to miss the chance to learn and explore among a diverse set of students and gain a better perspective.
2. Extracurricular Activities:
Boarding schools encourage students to participate actively in different creative activities like painting, athletics, quizzes, debate and drama. In a day school, teachers have to prioritise syllabus and academics because of restrictive hours. Boarding schools stand class-apart from day schools in case of extracurricular activities as they follow a curriculum for students where they equally prioritise academics and co-curricular activities.
3. Safety and supervision:
Child safety is the biggest concern for parents, irrespective of the school type. Boarding schools provide a safe and secure environment to students with timely supervision and safety measures. Boarding schools in Warangal prioritise the safety of students with 24*7 camera supervision and separate hostels for boys and girls. A separate team administers each hostel. Day schools provide security only during day hours whereas in boarding schools, students remain in a disciplined environment, under teacher’s guidance and supervision throughout the day and night.
4. Cost:
In terms of fees structure and facilities, boarding school surpasses day school. Boarding schools charge higher because of lodging facilities and amenities that they provide. The added cost gets used in providing students a more comfortable and healthy experience.
5. Child’s personality:
Depending on the personality of the child, he/she may benefit from either type of teaching formats. A boarding school is particularly helpful in developing a stronger sense of self, exposure to different individuals and most importantly, a sense of empathy.