In Srinagar, a beacon of educational transformation is emerging, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: a government girls' school in Nadakkavu, Kozhikode. The story of how this Kozhikode school became a model for Kashmir's education revival is a testament to the power of innovative educational practices and cross-regional collaboration.
The journey began when a team of students and teachers from Kothi Bagh Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Srinagar, Kashmir, embarked on a trip to Kozhikode. Their mission was to understand how Kerala achieved near-total literacy and became a model of educational excellence. They were particularly interested in the transformative educational practices implemented in Kerala, where every child attends school, a unique feature compared to much of India.
Kerala's educational success is closely linked to pioneering programs like the PRISM (Promoting Regional Schools to International Standards through Multiple Interventions) project. This project revamped the general education system in select model schools, including Nadakkavu Government Girls Vocational Higher Secondary School in Kozhikode. The visiting team was eager to witness firsthand how the PRISM project improved infrastructure, teaching methodology, inclusivity, and access for all children.
The transformation of the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School for Girls at Nadakkavu in 2013, with an investment of ₹20 crores, serves as a blueprint. The objective was to elevate ordinary schools to international standards through multiple interventions. Within a decade of its inception, over 1,200 schools, mainly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, adopted the Nadakkavu model. The model has even been introduced in a few schools in West Africa.
The Jammu & Kashmir government has formalized this collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding with the Kozhikode-based Faizal and Shabana Foundation to adopt Kerala's 'Nadakkavu model' of modernizing government schools. The foundation, established in 2007 by UAE-based Malayali industrialist couple Faizal E Kottikollon and Shabana Faizal, aims to create a robust educational system for all sections of society.
The initiative will be first introduced at the Government Higher Secondary School for Girls in Kothibagh, Srinagar. The goal is to establish the school as a center of educational excellence, which can then serve as a model for other schools throughout Jammu & Kashmir. The Faizal and Shabana Foundation will provide funding and assume responsibility for the project's implementation, including the school's holistic development. This includes collaborating with Indian and international institutions to conduct training programs for the school's teaching staff and students and linking students with centers of academic excellence.
Dr. Tassaduq Hussain Mir, director of school education, J&K, expressed confidence that the collaboration would create a brighter future for students in Kashmir and contribute to developing a robust educational system. According to Faizal Kottikollon, the Nadakkavu model has the potential to transform education in public schools across J&K and contribute to building a robust educational system in the country.
The purpose of the students' visit to Kozhikode extended beyond learning from Kerala; it also included forging future connections. There are plans for a return visit, where students and teachers from Kerala will travel to Kashmir to encourage ongoing educational dialogue and cooperation.
This cross-regional collaboration symbolizes India's diversity in education and demonstrates how shared learning experiences can uplift communities and improve system-wide practices. The PRISM-inspired reforms in Kashmir aim to provide similar opportunities and outcomes for students in the Valley, fostering hope and a brighter future.
