Indus International School to set up more “Remote Learning Centers"

Hyderabad, April 26, 2013: After successful implementation of the first Remote Learning Centers in a 50 year old Government School, in Kondakal Village in Andhra Pradesh, Indus School International plans to set up more Remote Learning Centers (RLC) in the village in collaboration with government schools.

"We are delighted with the response we got from the village folks and the local government officials" General Ray, CEO of Indus Trust said. Our goal is to create an eco system of equal opportunities for children from all strata of the society especially the underserved children of the rural zone who do not have access to quality education the much needed technology.

We also felt if children live in a collaborative environment they will be able to understand and respect each other much more and make the universe a better place to live."

Started in the year 2009, Remote Learning Center is an initiative set up by Indus International School with the core principle of imparting English, Technology and Leadership in a collaborative PPP model. The idea is the brain child of General Ray, who felt that inclusive learning is vital for the generation next to become more tuned to globalization. Our philosophy behind RLC is to treat every student from all sections of the society as "Uniquely Valued Individuals."

"It is fun as well as learning for us too" Indus school grade 5 student Manas said who is one of the students who is teaching basic English and all about shapes and sizes to the government school children. We feel this is a great initiative and we are enjoying it immensely. We come to this remote learning center and teach the students Basic English and basics about shapes and sizes and they love it too. I have lot of friends now and we love to help and exchanging knowledge with each other."

“Remote Learning Centers" in Kondakal Gramam Andhra Pradesh

Under the collaborative approach Indus International School has provided the RLC in Kondakal study tables, chairs, computers and books aimed to enhance their school environment and learning methodologies.

“Remote Learning Centers" in Kondakal Gramam Andhra Pradesh

As part of the program Indus also started a village woman empowerment program. The program objective is to teach entrepreneurship amongst the woman folks of the village. This was essentially to encourage the woman to motivate their children to study and enhance their life beyond the environment they live and also build an economic sustenance.

Another student of Indus said it is all about caring. It helps us know each other, value each other's unique skills and understand each other needs.

Community service is compulsory in Indus International School General Ray says. Once a week every student has to visit the RLC and engage with the students and help them learn basics of English which is crucial in today's world as English is the most common spoken language. Likewise the student of RLC also visit Indus International School and experience the various facilities an International School students are offered such as the sporting facilities, library, arts and cultural activities that happen in the school from time to time.

Though there was reluctance initially as students were not able to understand the concept of community service, but as they started interacting with the RLC students they began to enjoy it thoroughly. It also helps build a sense of care giving and respect amongst each other.

There is immense talent out there General Ray said. These underprivileged children if given equal opportunity can excel in any form of education, whether it is art, music or academically which came out in the open when we conducted the annual day event in our school and the RLC children came and gave outstanding performance.

Talking about their experience the all in smile students of the village showed lot of delight. They said that they are very happy to feel the transformation in their school with wall in the school becoming vibrant painted with informative images and there is a sense of confidence we feel when we talk to the students of Indus International school when they come and impart the knowledge they get to learn in their school likewise we also tell them what we learn in our village school.

Indus plans to open 2 more Remote Learning Centers around the village one in Kondal Thandal where only 80 lambadas families live with 40 primary school going children and another one in Mokila in the same village. There is a lot of request we are receiving the village sarpanch and school principal from nearby village who are keen to collaborate with the school.

Students need to see the relevance of a lesson if they are going to truly engage and put forth their best efforts. If the students understand the usefulness of the collaboration and see it as relevant, connected to their own lives, then they are more likely to develop interest and see learning as positive. This is exactly what Indus International would like to achieve through this RLC initiative.

Rural people tend to live in their communities by choice; and their decision to live in a rural place should not affect the quality of their children's education. The purpose of the collaboration between Indus and the rural school is to foster children's education of the underprivileged.