As leaders shaping young minds, principals play a crucial role in navigating the challenges and opportunities within the education system. In an exclusive interview with IndiansinKuwait.com, Dr. Binumon, Principal and Senior Administrator of the Indian Community School Kuwait (ICSK), shares his journey in education, innovative strategies, and insights on fostering a thriving learning environment.
IIK: Was teaching a conscious choice for you, or did it happen by accident?
Dr. Binumon: Throughout my career, I've observed three types of teachers. The first category includes those who are forced into teaching, often by their parents. They do their job by the clock, without extra effort or emotion. Unfortunately, many teachers fall into this category.
The second category comprises individuals who also ended up in teaching due to limited choices or parental pressure. However, their perspective changes after interacting with students, leading them to develop a passion for the profession.
The third category consists of those with an inborn passion for teaching, and they are rare.
I belong to the second category. My ambition was to become an IPS officer. After completing my Master’s in Science, I passed the Civil Service Preliminary exam but failed the Main exam, my first academic failure. Desperate and without other options, I followed my father's advice and joined a BEd course. During a live teaching training in my final year, my life took a 360-degree turn. Teaching 12th-grade students, I developed a strong bond with them and started loving the profession. This marked a new chapter in my life.
IIK: How did your transition from teacher to principal happen?
Dr. Binumon: It was another accidental turn. I got an opportunity to join a MES school in Malappuram district in Kerala. After a few years, the Chairman asked me to take on the role of Senior Secondary Head Master. I believe that my childhood dream of becoming a police officer helped me embrace this responsibility at a young age.
IIK: What are the three most important qualities a principal must have?
Dr. Binumon: A principal must possess communication skills, problem-solving skills, and decision-making skills. These, combined with a positive outlook, are essential. In some cases, we need to take an immediate decision and that can significantly impact a child’s future, so it’s crucial to handle tricky situations involving students, teachers, parents, and management effectively.
IIK: What values set you apart from others?
Dr. Binumon: I appreciate students for their positive changes rather than just their marks. As an institution, school should be able to make the student as a good human being with positive values. That student will become our brand identity for the institute.
One thing I make it a point is to personally call and wish each student on their birthday. It is not an easy task to call and spend some time talking to 10 or 20 students on an average every day. Despite the stress, I do this gesture to make a significant positive impact on those students on their birthday.
IIK: Can you share any unique teaching methodologies or extracurricular programs you have implemented?
Dr. Binumon: I have two very important points to share here. We introduced two key initiatives. First, our charity initiative involves a charity box where students can contribute few coins. This helps inculcate compassion and empathy, addressing the lack of these values in nuclear family setups, especially in Gulf countries.
I have been involved with some analysis project on increasing number of parents keeping their parents on old age home. Upon analysis, the root cause appears to be the prevalence of nuclear family setups. Particularly in Gulf countries, families often consist solely of the husband, wife, and their children. In these setups, each spouse tends to focus on their own immediate family. As the same children grow up and get married, their priorities again shift to their own spouse and kids, often resulting in the parents being placed in luxury old age homes with all the best amenities. This shift reflects a lack of compassion and empathy among the younger generation.
To address this, we have launched an initiative to instill these values in our students, and the results have been remarkable. We invite underprivileged patients identified by our well-wisher doctors and nurses from public hospitals to join us as guests at our assemblies. This provides an opportunity for students to see their pain and difficulties. The students present a charity amount of 150 KD to each patients. Every month we invite six cancer patients to the charity assembly. This sincere action fosters a deep sense of empathy and compassion in our students, and on many occasions, our teachers have witnessed students silently wiping their tears after these interactions. I believe that education should aim to develop students into good human beings; otherwise, what is the use of scoring full marks in Maths or Science?
The second thing I would like to highlight is our initiative on developing the public speaking skill and self-confidence. We introduced "Teach Me" sessions. During zero hour, students teach their favourite subjects, not necessary on academic syllabus, but anything that students interested in, mentored by a teacher. This has significantly improved not only their public speaking skills, but also develops self confidence among the students.
IIK: What are your strategies for the professional development of teachers?
Dr. Binumon: Teachers need to update themselves with their subjects and at the same time, should connect with their students emotionally. A good teacher should feel a parental bond with the students, becoming a second mom or dad at school. As long as the student’s emotion is not touching the teacher, he or she cannot be a good teacher.
IIK: How do you engage with the parent community?
Dr. Binumon: I am fortunate to have a trusting parent community at ICSK. They believe in my commitment to doing good for all, and it is my responsibility to uphold that trust.
IIK: Can you share something about your personal life?
Dr. Binumon: My wife, a civil engineer, lives with my elderly parents, demonstrating empathy and compassion. My two daughters, who recently completed their 12th and 10th grades, live with her. I never force career choices on them; I left it to them and my elder daughter recently appeared for the NEET exam.
IIK: Any message for the parents?
Dr. Binumon: I have an important message for parents. First and foremost, don't wish to achieve your wishes through your kids. Your role is to support and motivate them, especially during their teenage years. Treat your adolescent children both as children and as budding adults. Mothers should aim to be their daughter's best friend, and fathers should strive to be their son's best friend.
I also urge parents to ensure that at least one meal a day is shared together as a family, around a single table, without the distraction of mobile phones, television, or other gadgets. Use this time to engage in meaningful conversations with your children and involve them in the dialogue.
Finally, don’t force your child to pursue a career of your choice. Discover their interests and, if necessary, use aptitude tests to guide them towards their goals. Remember, we parents lived our lives 20 or 30 years ago, but our children are experiencing a different world and will face a future 20 years ahead. Instead of comparing their lives to our past, we need to prepare them for their own future.
IIK: Thank you for your valuable time and insights. We wish you all the best.