The Architect of Tomorrow’s Schools

Minal Desai is a trailblazing edupreneur committed to shaping the schools of tomorrow. With a visionary spirit and a hands-on approach, she drives change in education, aiming to create vibrant and compassionate communities within schools. Her unwavering commitment to excellence propels her to constantly raise the bar in education.

She serves as the visionary Director of GEMS Genesis International School (GGIS), where she integrates global insights and design expertise to foster a nurturing and transformative learning environment.

Beyond her role at GGIS, Minal generously shares her expertise with other schools in the city, including Genius Gems, Shivashish World School, and Wallaroos Tot Atelier. Minal's journey, from studying Economics in the UK to co-founding a design startup and establishing Gems Genesis International School, fuels her passion for infusing courage and compassion into the education system. Off-duty, you might find her engrossed in a podcast, pondering life over chai, or engaging in lively debates about the true essence of algebra. Who says transforming education can't also be enjoyable?

Take on Indian Edtech

In this episode, I am going to talk about the series of articles I read about Education and Online Learning. Last year India received 2.2 billion in funding for Edtech start-ups.

October 11, 2024

An Article in Newspaper

I came across an article in the newspaper, how a particular school has taken a threat for about more than 5 months, about the child who says, please cancel the exams or be ready for the dire consequences.

October 11, 2024

Stockpile of Degrees at Home

We recently began with our admission procedure and we had hundreds of parents who had applied for admission. Complying with the procedure I had to meet all these parents for a basic understanding of their background.

October 11, 2024

Which boards do you offer?

We offer two boards- CBSE and Cambridge (CUPA / IGCSE).

What are the school timings?

- Nursery to UKG: 8:30 am to 1:30 pm
- Grade 1 onwards: 8:30 am to 3:00 pm

When does the academic year start and end?

The session begins in April and ends in March.

Why a blended curriculum?

A blended curriculum helps us bring out the best of both boards at the same time. Our curriculum incorporates the rigour that CBSE requires of its students and the practical learning that Cambridge (CUPA) provides.

How do you help young kids settle?

Children are welcomed into an interactive space with a lot of hands-on resources which helps them engage positively. Our educators use languages like English, Hindi & Gujarati to connect with them before bringing them to an English-first environment.

Do students go on field trips?

YES! Field trips are an integral part of our teaching-learning journey. The visits are planned to enhance the understanding of the concepts being taught in class and for experiential learning. All field trips are included in the school fees.

Is food provided for students on campus?

No. Meals are provided by parents either with the child or through a paid service rickshaw (available in certain areas) that collects the hot tiffin from home and brings it to the schoolbefore the lunch break. There is also a meal subscription service if parents want to avail.

Are uniforms mandatory?

Yes, uniforms are mandatory.

Are tuition classes required for students?

We as a school do not recommend tuition. Childhood is about learning, playing and having freetime. However, if a child needs scaffolding, our teachers help them with the same. We also train and empower the parents to help students with specific concepts where they might need help. Lastly, all our full-time teachers are prohibited from tutoring GGIS students. We request the parents not to approach them for the same.

What does the 'Program Fee' include?

It includes various things which are specific to certain grades. For instance, only Grades 1- 5 use Mindspark- award-winning adaptive software for Math while Grades 11 and 12 take Guidance Counseling services. Program Fee vary from year to year and are informed to the parent at the beginning of the year.

What if I do not get admission? What about the fees paid? What if I withdraw the admission?

If the school is unable to provide you with a seat, the initiation fee will be refunded after the deduction of the processing fee within 20 working days. If the parent decides not to go ahead with the admission after the seat has been allotted, no amount will be refunded or adjusted.

Is School transport compulsory?

No, you can opt for your own transport with personal vehicles. Commercial vehicles are not allowed on campus.

Do you provide a door-to-door transport facility?

No, There are fixed stops in different areas and the child will have to be picked up and dropped at the given stops only.

What safety measures do you take on the buses?

All the buses are equipped with a GPS tracker and cameras. For the assistance of the younger kids, there will be a female helper along with the conductor on the bus.

Are there any after-school activities for students?

Not at the moment, however, we are a growing school and we are planning to offer certain activities over the years.

How often do we have PTMs in a year?

Officially four times a year but it can be as many times as a parent needs. We are available whenever the parents need us. Our official meetings come in various shapes and forms and include Induction, Orientation, Home Visits, Making Learning Visible (MLV), FUNderstanding, Parent Workshops, Yearly Yatra, Celebrations, Annual Events, Parent Interventions, and much more.

How many breaks do we have in one day?

Break Timings:
Snack - 10:05 to 10:20 AM
Lunch - 12:20 to 12:50 PM

Are there any other branches of the school?

We do not have any branches of GGIS. However, the school is a part of a larger group called Amara Learning Spaces that operates and partners with multiple schools across India and the USA.