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Projects
India currently has a massive shortage in educational infrastructure and we need 400,000 schools on a yesterday basis to accommodate close to 80 million children who are out of school. In addition , out of the total population of 1200 million citizens , some 500 million people cannot really be considered literate. About half of all adolescent girls for instance are unable to read and write. This huge mass of people face an uncertain future and will have very low incomes as illiterate people face a lifelong handicap. The huge income disparities that this will create will lead to increased social tension and lawlessness that could threaten the very fabric of our society. Urgent action is therefore required.
The Nataraja foundation is very keen to help bridge the massive demand – supply gap in the area of education. Our main activity therefore will be to build schools and then run them. The schools will be based on a unique concept and after we achieve proof of concept with the first school under phase I, the concept will be replicated across the country at multiple sites.
1. The School Project
Under phase 1 , the school that will be set up has been envisioned as a concept school. The school will be constructed on a 150 acre campus in a rural setting. A combination of new technologies and building methods will be used to deliver a very elegant project at the most economical cost possible in the industry. The project will also use energy efficient technologies to create a campus which is world class and a cut above contemporary projects on every environmental parameter. Living amenities for all teachers and students will be on campus in this 100 % residential school.
A unique feature of the school will be its focus on regional development . We will be taking 6 – 7 local village schools located within the district and share knowledge and teaching resources with them. The objective here is to ensure that these schools also have access to the best teaching talent possible. Teachers within the schools will be encouraged to commit some of their time to other nearby schools apart from their normal assignments on campus.
Apart from the above large residential schools set up under phases 1 & 2 , there will also be day schools for classes 1 – 4 located near the childrens homes that will be commissioned under phase 3 of the implementation.
2. The Teacher Programme
One of the primary functions of the trust will be to change the way we look at the teaching profession and at teachers in India. There is a need to restore the teacher at the top of our society . a position which is rightly his. This has been a fundamental part of Indian culture for thousands of years and this tradition needs to be brought back. The Nataraja Foundation will be instituting a programme aimed at fostering excellence in teaching at the district and Taluka level by providing :
Financial awards to teachers operating at other schools within the district 2. Opportunities to improve teaching skills through seminars / short term courses and teacher exchange programmes with the objective of bringing the best teaching practices to village schools.
The Nataraja foundation is dedicated to this task and we seek the help and support of all those who want to make this happen.
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