Tag Archives: Dr Sarfaraz Adil

Recognizing the Roots: Teachers Who Nurtured Kolkata’s Future Felicitated

Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

Asma Memorial Trust felicitates 80 educators including retired ones and specially-abled who served without recognition.

(Clockwise) Noor alam with Afaf Jameel, Junaid Kamal, Sangita Gurang (red sari) and the felicitated ones

Kolkata:

When the name of Junaid Kamal was announced, a 32-year-old man, with the help of two crutches, tried to stand up from his seat and began moving towards the stage to be felicitated at Asma Memorial Trust’s function. Soon, the fine art teacher was assisted in walking to receive a memento, a plant, and a set of notebooks and pens.

It was the first time in his 13-year teaching career that the art teacher, who is associated with four different organizations in Kolkata and serves the community, was recognized as a specially-abled person (left leg and right paralysed).

“I am thankful for the felicitation. For someone like me, it is not only difficult to study, but getting a respectable job is another challenge. Even when you succeed, it is rare that people appreciate it in this fast-paced life,” the Academy of Fine Arts graduate told eNewsroom.

Junaid was not alone; at least 15 retired educators, from both government and private schools, were also felicitated at the event.

Dr Umar Khyyam (70) of Maulana Azad College, Mobark Ali Mobarak (65) from Bankura district Urdu School, Nurul Hoda (62) of Kankinara Himayatul Ghurba High School (underprivileged), and Ashraf Ahmad Jafri (65) of Karaya School, Kolkata, were among them.

There were also current teachers, such as Afaf Jameel of Frank Anthony Public School, Sangita Gurung of Assembly of God Church School, Michael A Panja of GD Goenka Public School, Dr Khalid Hossain of Monu Memorial Institution (Kolkata), Debashish from Well and Gold, Md. Shahnawaz of Noble Mission School, Mubashshreen Shakil of KS Consultancy & Academy, Shaguta Adnan, who teaches French, and Manwar Sultana of Sir Syed English Medium School, among the total 80 teachers who were felicitated.

The felicitated and the felicitetors together after Asma Memorial Trust’s event

Teachers from South Point, East West, Goenka, Albani Hall, Islamia, Mohammed Jan, Flair International, and Izma International schools were also honored.

Noor Alam, the founder of NEET Basket, who also established the Asma Trust in memory of his wife to promote value-based education and encourage those involved in it, told eNewsroom, “We used to celebrate Education Day on the birthday of India’s first education minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. But this year, we started the celebration earlier and began by felicitating educators who have served society but have not received any recognition for it.”

Alam, the Rashtriya Shiksha Ratan Award winner also pointed out that during the felicitation, a plant was given to each honoree to symbolize how educators nurture children. Just as trees benefit society in many ways, a well-nurtured child can positively impact the community.

The chief guest, Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Shamsher Ahmad, who took voluntary retirement and started Crescent School in one of Kolkata’s ghettos—Topsia—shared his journey as an educator. “When I started the school in Topsia (in 2002), I decorated the building very well. People asked me why I was doing so. I told them that to build confidence in the Topsia students, they must study in a place that is not inferior to other major schools in the city.”

“In later years, to boost their confidence to appear for the Union Public Service Examinations, I used my contacts and made my school a center for the UPSC exam, which produces IAS and IPS officers. As a result, today our school produces doctors and students who pursue higher education after graduating from Crescent,” Ahmad said to the gathering.

Sangita Gurung of Assembly of God said a one liner for the teachers, “Teach what your preach and preach what you teach, is the motto remained in my career and it should be with every teacher.”

Dr Sarfaraz Adil, founder of Izma International School , reminded attendees of the importance of education in Islam and how it has been emphasized. “Getting an education is one of the fundamentals of Islam. It not only includes religious education but also opens doors to physics, astronomy, and chemistry. Before Islam, there was no scientific temperament in religion. Only the rich could study, but Islam made education accessible to everyone. Prophet Muhammad announced that any slave who learned and became educated would be freed. Later, a slave named Hazrat Barira became educated and declared that she should be freed, according to the Prophet’s word. And she was freed. Although it was difficult because she was married to an uneducated slave, she wanted her freedom and to be separated from her husband, so she was granted it.”

Dr Adil also had a message for today’s teachers: “Information is easily shared among students. So, what is important for teachers is to teach students skills and show them

source: http://www.enewsroom.in / E Newsroom India / Home> Bengal> Education / by Shahnawaz Akhtar / September 16th, 2024

Ghetto Tech Wizards: How Ijma International is Revolutionizing Education

Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :

Inside Kolkata’s hidden gem of education; how Ijma International is shaping tomorrow’s leaders

Kolkata:

When you first see 8-year-old Mohammed Ashfaque or 7-year-old Mariam Adil, along with other students assembling robotic cars, understanding the processes to build them, and participating in races to see how they work practically, you might think the students are from one of the top-notch schools in the city. But in reality, they study at Ijma International Model School, which is not only small but also situated in the lanes of Topsia, a Muslim ghetto in Kolkata.

However, meeting experts from different fields of international repute to learn new technology at a tender age has become a routine for them.

The boys wearing skull caps and the girls wearing hijab speak fluent English. They were seen listening to the administrators during this weekend..

“As you have learned to assemble robotic cars and tried to understand their engineering, we will also give you an idea of how cars move without drivers and how WiFi-enabled cars function,” said Nafis Ahmed Khan to the excited children. Khan added, “The purpose of the workshop was to give them an insight into robotic cars, how their connections work, and how to make battery connections so that they have a better understanding of how controlled cars work.”

The pupils not only took part in the two-hour-long robotics workshop but their curriculum follows CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) Board too. They learn mathematics, science, and computers as well as the Arabic language and Deeniyat. Every classroom has air conditioners, and there is a smart big screen for students. The school not only holds workshops on the latest technologies but also brings experts from different fields to interact with curious young minds.

Experts visit

There is a long list of experts from different fields from India and abroad, including Professor Ewaz Al-Jum’aa Al-Laila from King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Mufti Obaidulla Asadi, Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee, Islami Fiqh Academy; Muhammad Mushtaque Nadwi, Judge in the lower court, Doha, Qatar; Maulana Jaafar Hasani Nadwi, Deputy General Secretary, Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow; Wing Commander (Retd) Shamim Akhtar; NUJS Dean Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan; Advocate Khurshid Alam; Mamoon Akhtar, Founder and Chairman of Samaritan Group; Wali Rahmani, Founder of Umeed Academy; Chartered Accountants Faiz Anwar and Asif Ali; NEET Basket Founder Noor Alam; and social activists Manzar Jameel, Athar Firdausi, Umar Owais, Abu Talha Jamal Qasmi, Manzar Imam, and Alam Jamshed, who have met the kids from time to time over the last two years.

“Our students will compete with any other school’s children. We are preparing them so they can remain ahead in every aspect. The future belongs to Artificial Intelligence (AI), so these kids, when they grow up, will not only be well-versed with the latest technology but will also be able to think beyond it and may contribute something new to mankind,” the director, Dr Sarfaraz Adil, told eNewsroom. Dr Sarfaraz revealed the school’s plan to have a robotics lab in the school.

Role of Ijma Charitable Trust

Starting in the year 2023, the classes range from Nursery to 3rd grade. It has around 100 students. Run under the Izma Charitable Trust, it also has a provision for giving scholarships to 20 percent of the total students for each session. Ten percent can get a half-freeship in the fees, and the other ten percent can get a full freeship. “We have a plan to run the senior secondary school, and we have got land for this as well,” added the director.

Message for Parents

Mariam Adil is the daughter of the director. Her presence, according to the director, gives a message that unlike other small schools, the sons and daughters of the faculty also study here. This move will make parents confident about the fact that there will be no compromise in the education imparted at the school.

source: http://www.enewsroom.in / eNews Room India / Home> Education / by Shanawaz Akhtar / July 15th, 2024