Inspiration to ‘Be the Change’

62-63 - NakadarWith the inspiration that education is not just the government’s priority, but a subject of people’s initiative, Dr Nakadar Institute of Knowledge in Nandasan, Gujarat, was established in 2004 to play an integral role in the development of an economically healthy country. An ENN report

Education is the road towards a successful and brighter tomorrow. Prevalent conditions, however, do not bode well for minority education in India. In an era where schemes and programmes formulated by the government hardly reach the intended beneficiaries, providing a glimmer of hope for quality education to those who would otherwise have remained deprived, is extremely inspirational.
It is with this vision that the Nakadar Institute of Knowledge (NIK) has been involved in taking care of a large number of rural children whose parents are farmers, menial labourers or from other socially-underprivileged classes. With the low literacy levels in these re gions, especially amongst the girls, this institute has proved as nothing short of a boon to the locals in the boondocks of Gujarat.

Prime Focus

The school maintains that students form the main focus area for NIK. As a result, the school has been conducting extraclasses for the last four years for students of class X and XII. As a result of this initiative, the school’s results have been an impressive 100 per cent. The prime cause of concern for the school, however, is girls’ education. Traditionally, people in the locality still do not believe in sending their daughters to school. Even if they do, they are only given education till the tenth standard. In an attempt to bring around a change in this mindset, the school team is visiting villages, meeting parents and canvassing for the cause of female education.
It is this mindset that has plagued many efforts from all sections of society. Proper knowledge and lack of awareness are the main reasons why many minority institutions do not become popular or sought after, Abdullah Baig, Administrator, Dr. Nakadar Institute of Knowledge tells digitalLearning. “There is need for a suitable monitoring mechanism for minority-related programmes for the awareness and motivation,” he says.
Given the diversity of our country, various dimensions of inequality have affected the education of religious minorities. The people have benefitted from discussions with a wide variety of stake holders including teachers, civil society representations, government officials, academicians, thought leaders and NGOs. On their part, NIK has identified physical and value-based education as the prime objectives of the institute. “We have all facilities required for providing students a modern education system to compete with the contemporary world. We have proved ourselves with 100 per cent result at secondary level and started science stream at Higher Secondary level with highly qualified staff, so that it is helpful for the students in making their career,” adds Baig.

Curriculum

The institute offers schooling from Nursery to XII standard in English medium. Due to the growing demand of surrounding village students, the school began teaching classes XIth and XIIth of the Science stream in Gujarati medium three years ago. Dr Nakadar Institute of Knowledge follows the prescribed and approved courses of the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Boards. Besides formal education, subjects related to cultural ethos and value education are also incorporated here. Nearly 75 per cent of the students have secured admissions in some of the best engineering and medical colleges in the coutry. In a mark of recognition to the efforts of the institute, the Aligarh Muslim University has offered a distance education center to NIK.
Despite a majority of the students being from surrounding rural communities, the school has continued to have English as the medium of instruction. Though it is a predominantly Muslim school, children of all communities are welcome here.

The Infrastructure

  • The school is built on over an area of 40,000 square feet
  • Dining and a multipurpose hall are available for dramatics, debates and other competitions.
  • Residential facilities for its students.
  • Present hostel students capacity is 100 students, plan to increase it to 200 in near future
  • Newly built spacious 1 and 2 bedrooms staff quarters for the teaching staff.
  • 42 spacious classrooms, one science laboratory, one language and computer lab, audiovisual room, administrative and management blocks, conference rooms and a hall.
  • The number of teaching faculties is 45 and non teaching staff is 15.
  • Seven school buses to transport our students from their villages.

Positive Approach

NIK has ten community members on its board who make policy decisions and oversee the general workings of the school. They, in turn, report to Dr Abdul Rehman Nakadar. The approach of the school rests on the use of effective technologies and new methods of learning to serve future generations. The school aims at equipping students with the education necessary to acquire greater knowledge so as to meet the needs and opportunities of the new century. The school intends to inculcate in the students a vision and lay down a strong moral foundation for their future growth and learning so that they remain steadfast.
The new dispensation at the Centre has come to power with a great deal of expectations. Institutions too are justi- fied in expecting the new government to take the country forward into the league of super powers. The NIK too is confident and expects an economic transformation, taking the country to the next stage of development especially with the development of minority communities. “We expect that in future, we would not see the lapses of the past, and the PM will be equally close to, or equi-distant from, all sections of Indian society. Your announcement that your government will be the government of the poor is re- assuring,” Baig concludes.

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