Ahmed Shaikh, SSA Global English School, Khadavali, Thane
Inspiration
A Thane-based married couple, both doctors, motivated by the Muslim term Iqra meaning ‘To Educate,’ applied it in their medical practice to educate the community about health. Due to their respected profession and sincere intentions, community members urged them to establish affordable schools for quality education. As esteemed doctors, they were trusted figures, drawing inspiration from Iqra to contribute to overall growth and life transformation. Now, their son, Ahmed Shaikh, upholds their legacy by managing the school.
How the legacy continued
Establishing a school posed challenges for the Shaikh family. They started in a small space near their house, supported by community experts. However, the trust committee presented obstacles, with some members prioritizing profit over the school’s well-being. Despite challenges, Mr. and Mrs. Shaikh persevered with their pure intentions, successfully managing the trust with family help.
“Starting the school was tough, especially dealing with profit-focused committee members,” recalls Ahmed. “But my parent’s commitment to the students kept them going.”
While working at Wipro, Ahmed noticed issues in a school’s monitoring and teaching processes, motivating him to lead the school’s holistic growth. He identified challenges in the Hindi and Marathi sections, where teachers faced low wages and struggled for permanency, losing their passion for teaching. “We’re working to improve educational processes, keeping our teachers motivated,” affirms the current school leader. “Their dedication is key to our students’ success.”
Bringing affordable education to the community
Ahmed stressed the importance of affordable education in the community. He recognized that while education is crucial for all, quality education often becomes costly and inaccessible, particularly for those with lower and mid-income levels.
“Affordable education is a right for everyone,” Ahmed emphasizes. “Despite challenges like transportation and tuition costs, making education accessible with necessary facilities is essential for students to reach their potential.”
He acknowledges, “Financial gaps in affordable schools can affect paying teachers what they deserve, impacting the school’s effective functioning.” Despite hurdles, ensuring access to affordable education remains crucial for the community’s overall well-being.
School’s step towards innovation
Ahmed is putting in a dedicated effort to offer top-notch education despite facing challenges. The school introduced two E-learning classes to keep students engaged and foster creativity.
“Our commitment is to provide the best education despite the hurdles we face,” Ahmed emphasizes. “Implementing E-learning classes helps keep students curious and engaged.”
He adds, “We focus on activity-based learning, and my role is to assist teachers in recognizing students’ talents, ensuring parents are aware of their child’s potential.” This approach aims to nurture students holistically, fostering a love for learning and exploration.
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Moments of motivation
Ahmed also shared some joyful moments, like when parents asked to keep the school open during the pandemic.”Parents requested not to close the school during the pandemic, and it made me feel overwhelmed and delighted,” Ahmed shares. “For me, a successful lesson is when children stay awake, engaged, and curious. It’s moments like these that make me even happier.”
He adds, “Despite challenges, I keep a positive outlook and strive to provide top-notch education and support to my students.” This positive approach shapes the school’s atmosphere and fosters a passion for learning among students.
School during the pandemic
Amid the pandemic, the sudden onset of COVID-19 posed challenges for many. Ahmed worked tirelessly to maintain student connections through online education but recognized that some parents faced difficulties due to a lack of Android phones. To assist, he provided around 10 Android phones to families in need.
“It was a tough time, but I believe in doing good for others,” Ahmed shares. “Distributing groceries to around 500 families, including our school’s parents, was important for me.”
He continues, “Initially, we had challenges with teachers lacking technical skills and a shortage of Android phones. We addressed these issues by gradually providing phones to parents and training teachers on online platforms.” This adaptive approach allowed them to overcome obstacles and continue providing education and support to the community.
Addressing the learning gap
“Returning to school, we noticed a learning gap among students after the break,” Ahmed observes. “A major challenge was getting them interested in studies again.”
He adds, “To overcome this, our teachers arranged revision sessions and exciting learning activities, aiming to reignite the students’ curiosity and engagement.” This proactive approach aimed to bridge the gap and reignite a love for learning among the students.
Relationship with Varthana
Expressing thanks to Varthana, Ahmed highlights, “Our main focus was on enhancing SSA Global School, located at Khadavli, especially when we were navigating the challenges of returning to normal.” A significant challenge was the unclear boundaries, risking our students’ safety. He says,” To address this, we secured a loan from Varthana and took proactive steps to establish a secure campus.”
“I’m pleased to share that we’re developing a beautiful mini garden along the boundary, planting trees, and adding swings to create a healthy environment for our students,” Ahmed notes. These efforts are aimed at encouraging parents to visit the school more often and witness the positive impact the school is creating.”
He emphasizes, “Varthana’s support has played a crucial role in making these improvements and ensuring a safer, more inviting school environment.” This collaborative endeavor seeks to improve the overall school experience and strengthen the bond with parents.
Vision
Ahmed understands the importance of supporting teachers’ growth alongside developing school infrastructure. “I believe in nurturing teachers’ growth, ensuring they are physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy for a positive school environment,” Ahmed shares. “Organizing workshops on mental well-being and mindset is part of our effort.”
He emphasizes, “Providing technical skills training is on our agenda to enhance teachers’ abilities and maintain seamless school operations.” Ahmed’s dedication to education is a driving force in these initiatives, aiming to create a more supportive and effective learning environment.
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