4 Compelling Reasons Why Every School Needs a Mentorship Program

Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker, and Ishaan Awasthi. All these three fictional heroes had one thing in common — they had great mentors. Albus Dumbledore, Master Yoda, and Ram Shankar Nikumbh were role models to these heroes who believed in them when no one else did, helped them overcome adversities, discover themselves, and become who they are.

In the age of self-help culture and YouTube motivation gurus, we have forgotten the importance of personal mentorship and the positive impact that these mentors have on children, especially in their formative years. A good mentorship program at school results in the students performing significantly better and prepares them for life after school.

Here are 4 compelling reasons why every school needs a mentorship program.

Benefits the students

Mentorship helps students perform better both academically and personally. It enables them to develop self-awareness, foster passion and set goals to achieve success in school, career, and life. According to a survey conducted at California University, having a mentor was associated with higher academic self-efficacy scores than those without a mentor.

The students learn from their mentor’s life experiences, reflect upon their actions and experiences, and develop character traits that put them on the path to success. The wisdom of the mentors acts as a guiding hand for the students to pursue a responsible and meaningful life. 

Builds meaningful relationships

The relationship between the students and mentors born of mentorship programs is one of honesty, trust, and empathy. The students feel more comfortable opening up about their problems and are receptive to advise from the program’s mentor. The students and mentors often continue their relationship past the mentorship program.

A survey by Olivet Nazarene University in 2018 found that the average mentor-mentee relationship lasted for three years and three months. A major impetus for these relationships to flourish as long as they do is the mentors’ desire for the student’s progress and development and the students’ appreciation of the openness of the relationship.  

Benefits the mentors

Mentorship programs help not just the students but the mentors too. This is especially true if the teachers themselves mentor their students. It helps them personalize learning for students who are struggling academically, which is often impossible in a classroom setting. It also enhances their communication skills, reinforces their knowledge and values, and improves their leadership abilities. Most importantly, it instils a sense of fulfilment in their work and offers a more rewarding teaching experience.

Benefits all stakeholders

Providing mentorship programs benefits all the important stakeholders of a school — students, parents, teachers, and the management, either directly or indirectly. Mentorship is a highly cost-efficient way of increasing the likelihood of students attending school regularly, dropping out less often, engaging themselves more in school-related activities, and exhibiting positive and respectful behaviour.

Schools that develop a reputation for producing highly competitive students and alumni often attract many quality candidates. Hence, this ripple effect leads to building institutions of renown and excellence. If you want to know more about how to attract new admissions and increase your enrolment, check out this article.  

If we look back a few thousand years ago at ancient India’s gurukul system, it is a perfect example of a community-based mentorship program. Unfortunately, the majority of Indian schools today do not have mentorship programs for their students. It is time for schools to look out for Dumbledores, Yodas, and Ram Shankar Nikumbhs to create heroes of the future!