UAE-based foundation upgrades govt girls school in Kerala

Part of PRISM project that aims at upragading govt schools to world standards

The UAE-based Faizal & Shabana Foundation has upgraded a government girls school at Nadakkavu in Kozhikode by investing Rs 15-crore.

PK Abdu Rabb, minister for Education, inaugurated the upgraded school today. The foundation had used cost-efficient precast construction method to construct classrooms, toilets, science labs, indoor gymnasium, atrium, dining hall, astro turf stadium and landscaping.

More than 132,000 sft has been added in the Phase-I and was completed in 95 days. In the second phase, the foundation proposes to upgrade the skill of the teaching faculty with the support of IIM Kozhikode (IIMK).

The foundation was the driving force behind PRISM (Promoting Regional Schools to International Standards through Multiple Interventions) initiative that was conceptualised by local MLA, Pradeep Kumar, to upgrade schools across Kerala, making them a model to the entire country.

With the involvement of the foundation, PRISM aims at not only improving the physical infrastructure and environment of the school but also increasing the quality of education and enhancement of creativity and innovation, teaching and leadership skills.

The minister said under the PRISM project, by upgrading facilities at the school to world standards, it would attract more students to government schools.

Faizal Kottikollon, chairman of the foundation, said IIMK had done a gap analysis on the government schools in Kerala and had identified a number of challenges faced by these schools, including lack of infrastructure and low morale among teachers and students. Lack of basic facilities like toilets in girls schools also contributed to the decline in attendance and academic output.

The project proposal for PRISM was developed with the help of the Social Service Group (SSG) of IIM Kozhikode. PRISM was conceived to address the problems faced by government schools through multiple interventions.