Sachin=GOD Posted November 18, 2011 Posted November 18, 2011 MUMBAI/ BANGALORE: After chipping in for the country's educational system for a decade, the Azim Premji Foundation (APF), run by the third richest Indian on his own money, is all set for a generous initiative. The foundation plans to start 1,300 schools across the country- two per district - which will be free, impart education in the local language and be affiliated to the state board. If the idea succeeds, it could shame India's dysfunctional public education system - and perhaps inspire other wealthy tycoons to look beyond their personal status-building. The APF schools, from preschool to class 12, will be on the lines of government ones. The difference will be in quality. "Quality education is fundamental to our becoming a developed nation. And the final crucible of learning is the classroom," says Azim Premji. Wipro's idea of starting 1,300 schools came after the Azim Premji Foundation recently reviewed its work from 2001, the year in which it was set up. "We felt the need to graduate from programme interventions to institution-building," says Dileep Ranjekar, APF's CEO. "One of our ideas was to set up a separate educational board like the ICSE/ CBSE. But most of us...felt that change would be better felt and seen by actually setting up schools." Those associated with the planning of this Rs 9,000-crore project say that the schools will focus on the overall development of their students, including their health and nutrition. "The attempt is also to establish schools in corners that are currently educationally under-served and not to compete with existing schools, whether public or private," says Ranjekar, adding that seven schools will start within a year-and-a-half in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh. If things go as forecast, all the 1,300 schools should be up and running by 2025. The aim behind the schools is two-pronged. "One is to build social pressure for other schools to follow suit and provide quality education. Two, we want to test ourselves, understand what it takes to deliver quality teaching and learning. One cannot tell the world to improve unless one actually leads by example," says Ranjekar. A focal aim of the foundation is to get each school to evolve, over time, as a development centre integrated with the community. Thus, the schools will be staffed with teachers from the rural areas, but appointed after written tests and an interview. "Emphasis will be placed on their expertise in the subject, their understanding of pedagogy and their social orientation. Parents of the children will be important partners in the process of development," says Ranjekar. Link :hatsoff::hatsoff::hatsoff::hatsoff:
achilles Posted November 18, 2011 Posted November 18, 2011 :hatsoff: Azim Sir is one corporate who has actually gone beyond words and tax benefits.
kabira Posted November 19, 2011 Posted November 19, 2011 Great Initiative!!! Other corporate and companies are busy making money from our education system. They do provide quality education but they are damn expensive. Great Move!!!
Sachinism Posted November 19, 2011 Posted November 19, 2011 Hope the quality is there :hatsoff: Yeh a very important thing, but great initiative
1983-2011 Posted November 19, 2011 Posted November 19, 2011 hope the people who are working to build the schools such as the contractors, accountants, politicians, goons etc... dont waste his money in this sincere effort
ViruRulez Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Premji and Tata have always been my two favorite business tycoons in India due to their selfless work. Premji especially is doing immensely for the nation and giving back and he does not publicize it that much either. He was also appreciated by Gates and Buffet last year due to his charitable acts towards Indian society. IIRC he also gave away 2 billion dollars last year for India's education. Hope the Ambanis etc. learn something from him. And to be honest, Premji also became the world's second richest person long time ago and could have worked merely for profit. But instead chose to do charity and help others too instead of only minting money. Hats off to him and hope other corporates follow him even if to a partial extent. :hatsoff:
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