INDIA • EDUCATION

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SISTER SCHOOL PROJECT

The goal of the sister school project is to compile contact information of schools in different regions of the world to provide the possibility of establishing sister school relationships.  The sister school project will be accomplished through the following three components: pictures/images of schools around the world, a forum (as internet access allows) where students from different schools can discuss student life, and written correspondence between schools and students where internet access is not possible.

Name: Jamea Saifiyah Arabic University Location: Surat, Gujrat, India Total students: 750 (500 males and 250 females) Interesting Facts: This is one of two Arabic schools in the world (with the second being located in Pakistan) for Dawoodi Bohra Muslims.  The current spiritual leader of this group of people is Syedra Mohamed Builiaduddin, the 52nd Dia-ul-Mutlaq.  The school was established 205 years ago.   Student population: 50% of students are from India, but others are from UK, USA, Pakistan, etc.  Entrance: All interested students take a qualifying exam after grade seven.  If accepted (primarily based on test-scores), students will study for 11 years at the school, with room and board being completely free of charge. Subjects: Jamea Saifiyah Arabic University teaches all subjects taught in a private of public school including math, English, science, technology, social studies, etc., along with religious education. Hours: School hours are Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am through 1:00 am.  From 2:20 pm to 4:20 pm students complete daily studying of the Koran.  Students also pray 5 times a day.  Students have a one month vacation during Ramadan, where they are fasting from sunrise to sunset. Meals: Students eat breakfast in their hostel and eat two meals together in the dining hall, one meal at 1:00 pm and the other at 8:00 pm.  Students eat in the traditional Dawoodi Bohra Muslim fashion.  Eight students sit around a mat on the floor and eat from a communal, large metal plate.  Gentlemen eat downstairs, while ladies eat upstairs. Uniform: Boys and girls both wear uniforms.  Boys wear the traditional, white Saya Kurta (which looks like a shalwar kameez – a long shirt and pant combination), while women wear the Rida, a cape-like dress which covers the head and neck.

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Name: Municipal Cooperation School Location: Pahar Ganj, New Delhi, India Age of Students: 5 to 10 years old Number of teachers: 7 Number of total students: 200 Number of students per class: 25 Subjects taught: Math, Science, English, Computer, Hindi School Hours: Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.  In May and June the students have a 2 month summer vacation, while teachers continue to work for one of these months.  Students and teachers also have a short winter break from December 25th through the 31st. Teacher qualifications: Various standards exist.  The minimum education a teacher is required to complete in order to teach at this government school is a 2-year diploma course of study, but some teachers also have a 4-year Bachelor’s Degree or a Master’s Degree

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Name: Salaam Baalak Trust Location: Pahar Ganj, New Delhi, India Purpose of School: Salaam Baalak Trust is a school run by the Ministry of Social Department and private donations from both individuals and organizations such as US or UK Aid and Indian aid organizations.  The school is run for “street children in India” who have been abandoned or chosen to leave their families, to provide them an alternative from living on the streets.  Number of Students: There are multiple locations of this school.  The branch we visited in Pahar Ganj, New Delhi house 48 students, aged 4-12, although other branches accept and educate students up to 18 years old.  Materials: Students do not pay to attend the school and while in attendance they receive free breakfast, lunch and dinner, free clothing and shoes, bed mattress and sheets, books, paper and writing utensils, etc.  Each student has their own locker/cubby to store                                                                                                              any of their materials,                        though most students do not have any other belongings other than that which is provided to them from the school. Entrance: Students can refer themselves to the school (the school has a 24-hour hotline) and are often referred by the police.  Some students are found by police,            staff or other students living at or near the train stations and are encouraged to attend. Services provided: Beyond the traditional academic subjects of Math, Hindi, English, Geography, Science, etc., students are also provided services in such as free healthcare, mental health counseling, social work services and a 24 hour helpline. Other information: Graduates of the school provide two to four hour walking tours of the city, describing their own personal struggles and successes at the school while providing a glimpse into their former “street life”.  After speaking with two graduates, we were extremely impressed with their perspectives on their lives and hope, goals and promise for the future. Contact Info: For more information on Salaam Baalak Trust, please visit, www.salaambaalaktrust.com

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STUDENTS PERSPECTIVES PROJECT

The student perspectives project describes personal perspectives of student life.  Some topics which students may be asked to talk about are:

• How long is the school day/year?
• How far do you travel to school?
• What does your classroom look like?
• Are books provided for you?
• What subjects do you learn about?
• Do you have a different teacher every year?
• What is the average age student finish school?
• Do you enjoy going to school?

Students                                                                                        

Name: Sherab
Age: 14 years old
Location: McCleod Ganj, India
School: Upper Tibetan Children’s Village (TVC) School
School Hours: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm (Autumn, Winter and Spring terms), 8:30 am to 1:00 pm (Summer term),30 minute lunch break
Subjects: Tibetan, Hindi, English, Math, Computer, Social, Science, Physical Training
Number of students per class: 25
Teachers: students have a different teacher for every subject
Homework: about 2 hour every night
Favorite subject: English
Favorite aspect of school: asking teachers answers to all of his questions
Least favorite aspect of school: cleaning the classroom
Favorite activities outside of school: skateboarding, football and basketball

We have established an area within the student perspectives project where a variety of disciplines can complete specific projects relating to student perspectives.  The goal of this platform is to allow cross-cultural sharing and exchange of ideas for exploring student life.  Visit a discipline below to see different school projects, create your own project, and sign your school up to become part of this initiative.

CULTURAL MISCONCEPTIONS PROJECT

The goal of our education program is to establish a platform for discussion of cross-cultural perspectives and misconceptions.  Our intention is to use this platform to expose some of the cultural misconceptions that exist today, in the hopes of supporting cross-cultural understanding.  To join our cultural misconceptions forum, please sign in below.

FORUM

We have established an area within the cultural misconceptions project where a variety of disciplines can complete specific projects relating to student perspectives.  The goal of this platform is to allow cross-cultural sharing and exchange of ideas for exploring misconceptions.  Visit a discipline below to see different school projects, create your own project, and sign your school up to become part of this initiative.