BANGALORE, December 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Three-year partnership brings together educators from Singapore and India, potentially benefiting up to 700 teachers and 5,250 school children in Bangalore
The Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and the Parikrma Humanity Foundation has launched a three-year partnership to enhance the teaching standards of Mathematics and Science in Karnataka. The Mathematics & Science Curriculum Enhancement Project will be led by a team of Singapore International Volunteers (SIVs) who are at the forefront of primary level education in Singapore.
(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/617401/SIF_Parikrma_Humanity_Foundation.jpg )
Through this project, educators from Singapore will work with their counterparts in Bangalore to raise the professional expertise of the teachers, facilitate interactive and active learning classrooms, as well as promote knowledge sharing between professionals in Singapore and Karnataka's education sector. In the process, they would also equip a select group of Indian educators with the skills and knowledge as master trainers to perform cascade training to other Mathematics and Science educators in the sector, creating a sustainable positive impact.
The Mathematics & Science Curriculum Enhancement Project augments the Karnataka state government's commitment to the larger UN Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring inclusive and quality education for all - the government has pledged to substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training by 2030.
Besides facilitating professional sharing and knowledge transfer between established practitioners in both countries, this project also functions as a scalable model aimed at heralding a long-term positive impact in the education sector in the region. Over the course of three years, up to 700 Indian educators from Parikrma Humanity Foundation's schools and other government schools in Bangalore as well as 5,250 school-going children are expected to benefit from the collaboration, through the following initiatives:
- Training-of-Trainers workshops
- Online mentoring sessions for master trainers
- Public Education camp for parents
- A teacher aid which will be produced by both the SIVs and master trainers and used in subsequent teacher training programmes
- A symposium to function as a knowledge platform for sharing and exchange of best practices, and
- A study visit to Singapore for select master trainers to see the best practices shared being applied in the Singaporean context which will guide them in applying or adapting practices for their own schools
The Singaporean educators who are leading this effort are also part of a much larger pool of specialist Singapore International Volunteers (SIVs). Over the years, they have collaborated with partner organisations in host countries on initiatives that aim to help enhance the skills and capacity of their counterparts, who further cascade acquired learnings to their colleagues to uplift the lives of those around them.
Ms Jean Tan, Executive Director, Singapore International Foundation said, "Education is one of the key areas which guide our work at the Singapore International Foundation. By creating platforms such as this to facilitate people-to-people collaboration, we can work hand in hand to share insights and effect positive social change. We hope that through sharing resources and knowledge in primary education, we are able to contribute to a crop of educators who would be able to deliver high-quality teaching practices to benefit children's development."
Ms Shukla Bose, Founder, Parikrma Humanity Foundation said, "Singapore's education system has been globally recognised and we are excited to work together with the SIF to raise the teaching standards of our Mathematics and Science teachers to support children's learning at the primary school level. This collaborative effort will not only impact the children, but it will also serve to nurture a pool of highly-trained educators who can go on to share their acquired knowledge and skills in this sector."
Ms Peggy Foo, SIF Specialist Team Leader, and Lecturer, Marshall Cavendish Institute said, "I am looking forward to being able to share my experiences in the education sector - through these shared resources and expertise, I believe that we can help contribute towards the development of Mathematics and Science in Bangalore for quality education. Learning happens both ways - I am definitely looking to learn from my Indian counterparts on their approach to these subjects and how they overcome challenges."
The Mathematics & Science Curriculum Enhancement Project is another milestone in the 22-year friendship between the SIF and communities in India to uplift lives and build enduring friendships for a better world.
About Singapore International Foundation
The Singapore International Foundation makes friends for a better world. We build enduring relationships between Singaporeans and world communities, and harness these friendships to enrich lives and effect positive change. Our work is anchored in the belief that cross-cultural interactions provide insights that strengthen understanding. These exchanges inspire action and enable collaborations for good. Our programmes bring people together to share ideas, skills and experiences in areas such as healthcare, education, the environment, arts and culture, as well as livelihood and business. We do this because we believe we all can, and should, do our part to build a better world, one we envision as peaceful, inclusive and offering opportunities for all. Find out more at http://www.sif.org.sg
About Parikrma Humanity Foundation
Parikrma Humanity Foundation is a non-profit organization with a simple mission - to ensure that even the poorest child from the slums is able to access the best possible opportunities anywhere in the world. Parikrma was founded in 2003 as a response to the growing inequalities and disparity in India's Silicon Valley - Bangalore. In this city, where close to a million people work in multinational IT companies, only 8-10% of this workforce comes from economically and socially marginalized people in the city. In a country with a high rate of drop-outs in high school, it isn't surprising then, that less than 9% of our children are able to go to college, and even fewer have access to high-quality jobs. Perhaps the under-representation of the poor is because their supposed inability to speak English well, graduate from college or their family's reluctance to educate them. We know that these are myths. At Parikrma, we have proved these notions to be wrong.
Now in its 15th year of operations, Parikrma runs 5 Centres for Learning and a Junior College for more than 2000 children from 99 slum communities and 5 orphanages in Bangalore. Parikrma's 360-degree development model is one that covers every aspect of a child's life. Besides CBSE English language education, this model includes nutrition (3 meals a day), comprehensive healthcare and family care to ensure stable home environment. Built around an end-to-end model, Parikrma looks after a child right from Kindergarten until he or she is placed in a job. While Parikrma manages delivery of K-12 education, it provides scholarships for children to pursue university education in mainstream colleges and supports children until they have broken the cycle of poverty once and for all.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Shah Jahan Tajudeen
Manager, Communications
Communications & Corporate
Development Division, Singapore
International Foundation
[email protected]
DID: +65-6690-6353
Mobile: +65-9456-8424
Ms Arpana Rai
Resource Mobilisation Coordinator
Parikrma Humanity Foundation
[email protected]
Mobile: +91-99863-60441
Soundhariya Viswanathan
[email protected]
Senior Manager
PointNineLintas
Share this article