IRM Smart Schools

Education is what removes our doubts and fears; what makes us happy and peaceful; what makes us better human beings. The teacher comes, removes the darkness and suddenly we find how beautiful this world is. But gaining knowledge alone doesn’t make one educated. Education is complete only when we learn how to live, how to hope, how to pray and how to behave with others.

IRM is currently running 111 schools with 4,125 students in KP, Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad

ABOUT
The overall objective of these schools is to provide primary education (Class 1-5) to out-of-school children in a multi-grade classroom setting and prepare them for board exams of class 5th and slickly transfer them to mainstream education system.

SALIENT FEATURES:

• Smart schools are located in a neighborhood which is not served by a government school, i.e. it is not within the 3 km radius.
• Smart schools provide primary education to approximately 30 out-of-school students per teacher in a multi-grade classroom setting.
• Smart schools follow the curriculum based on government syllabus and students are prepared for the board exam held at the end of 5th grade.
• Both girls and boys are equally considered to enroll in Smart Schools. Moreover, children physical disabilities are also encouraged.
• Teacher’s responsibility is to build up an ethical & healthy social behavior among students.
• IRM provides teachers training on multi-grade teaching methodology.
• IRM also provides uniform, stationary and per diem to these students.

With the alarming stats of Out-Of-School-Children (OOSC) expected sustainable development goals cannot be achieved. The OOSC rate is increased day by day and it will become worse if nothing will be done about it. Therefore, we believe it our rightful duty to focus on one of the most alarming problem of Pakistan.

Education helps us to be healthy, save many lives, boosts economic growth, earn money, raise quality crop, promote peace in the society, eradicate poverty, remove gender discrimination and inequality, promote women and children rights, bring good governance, remove corruption, make aware about fundamental rights and so many. Good education does not mean to study hard and get good results however it is to conquer new things for the betterment of whole mankind.

Medical Check ups of Students

Recently IRM took a new initiative of complete medical checkup of the students. We have been encouraged to undertake this critical task for two basic reasons i.e. hard economic circumstances of the parents and ignorance about the preventive health measures. In September 2016 IRM launched Health Diagnostic Campaign for general medical checkup of all students as IRM believes that regular check-ups and immunizations help to ensure normal development, healthy growth and protection from preventable diseases.

Regular health examinations and medical checkups can help for an early diagnostic of basic health issues, which definitely increase chances for early recovery and cure. These steps are helping IRM to ensure that all students are being taken care of and are enjoying healthier life. Most of the students belong to underprivileged and marginalized communities and don’t have access to basic medical facilities, this initiative is providing the healthcare services at their door steps. IRM has engaged medical doctors to visit the SMART schools on volunteer basis instead of sending children to clinics or basic health units.

New Learning Techniques for Students
IRM believes in innovating the learning techniques and using new methods and latest technology to teach the children with fun. These students are definitely the future of Pakistan. The development of good behavior and strong personality depends up

on the moral values imparted to these children during their student life. In the beginning we familiarize SMART School students about new technology i.e. tablets which are being used for the following;

• Narrating moral stories.
• Phonics based alphabet learning skills

Meeting with Student Parents

IRM is a strong believer of community mobilization and development with a 360 degree approach which requires the involvement of all stakeholders. For this purpose we established “Parent Education Committees” to directly involve them, this strategy proved

very successful in getting suggestions and feedback from the parents. Regular committee meetings are being arranged in IRM Smart schools premises. We invited student’s parents in these meetings and took feed back regarding their children study and behavior change. For this purpose a specific questionnaire has been introduced to record parent’s feedback about students’ academic performance and change in behavioral patterns. During these committee meetings we are also recording valuable suggestions for improvement and complaints if any from the parents. Moreover this exercise is an integral component of our monitoring system.

Teachers Training 

IRM is conducting regular training programs and refresher courses for the teachers on multi-grade teaching methodology to cater the needs of the students. Initially this training is being conducted during the probation period which is then continued throughout the program.  A good teacher knows the proper methods to teach and guide students in the right direction, as well as understanding the theoretical and conceptual knowledge of the subject they teach. Teachers are valuable assets of modern society and develop the future of the next generation. However, there is a well-documented shortage of quality teachers across educational institutions in the country.

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