The science expo held the other day at Success – The School in Tolichowki is a case in point. It had a touch of finesse and professionalism, something unheard of at school level.

Khadija-tul-Kubra, a UKG student, with a  eye-catching model of the summer season

Science expos and educational fairs in schools have come a long way. They are no longer the work of amateurs that they used to be. Today they standout for creativity and ingenuity. No wonder models put by students, both static and working, are a pleasure to behold.

The science expo held the other day at Success – The School in Tolichowki is a case in point. It had a touch of finesse and professionalism, something unheard of at school level. The selection of themes, preparation of models and the final presentation by students spoke of commitment and untiring efforts put in by students, parents and teachers.

The models were attention grabbing to say the least. Not just science and technology, there were models on other subjects too. Intricacies of mathematics, journey of mankind, cosmology and beauty of English, Urdu, Hindi and Telugu languages were also explained through models and charts. Fun activities were also thrown in for good measure. All the students, right from prep class to tenth – gave their best to make the science expo a memorable experience.

Khadija-tul-Kubra, a UKG student, came up with a simple but eye-catching model of the summer season. She explained with actions how summer gives an opportunity to swim, surf and visit beaches. “It’s time for fun and a lot of sun”, she remarked.

Afra Fatima and Afsheen Furqan of 5th class presented a working model of LCM (least common multiple) and HCF (highest common factor). “Math gives us hope that every problem has a solution”, they said.

It was talent unplugged at Success. The way the little ones explained their models showed that learning is really a funny experience. They used their classroom knowledge to develop models which made things easy to understand. The expo gave them a platform to exhibit their scientific knowledge and explore their creative flair. What’s more it helped them indulge in outside the box thinking. The way the students explained their models in fluent English showed their confidence level and also public speaking skills.

The story of Gulliver’s Travels was well depicted by Akbar Ahmed Baig, a sixth class student. He used a big doll to show Gulliver being tied down with ropes by the Lilliputians – hand, foot and hair. Women’s empowerment was also a theme. Some students dressed like Indra Gandhi, Mother Teresa, boxing sensation Nikhat Zareen and Sania Mirza to show what the fair sex could achieve. Students of Success Hifz Academy fashioned models on the Islamic theme. Visitors were seen thronging the models of the holy Kaba, Jamarat pillars, Jabal Thawr, the mountain located in Saudi Arabia, and the huge whale which swallowed Prophet Yunus (pbuh).

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in The Telangana Today

Dated March 2,2023.

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The Shaheen Group of Schools along with the Sahitiya Trust, Safa Baitul Maal and other organisations, have decided to educate 5000 ‘huffaz’ (Quran memorisers) in the modern subjects right at their madrassa

Imparting modern education to madrassa students is nothing new. The concept is now being sought to be implemented in a different way to make it more effective and popular. The Shaheen Group of Schools along with the Sahitiya Trust, Safa Baitul Maal and other organisations, have decided to educate 5000 ‘huffaz’ (Quran memorisers) in the modern subjects right at their madrassa. Billed as the ‘Madrassa Plus’ programme, it will be implemented in a mission mode method to ensure that the madrassa students are in a position to appear for the tenth class examination in just 18 months flat.

Beginning May 2, Madrassa Plus will be introduced for 100 students in 50 selected seminaries across the country.  Through a bridge course, the students will be taught the basics of mathematics, science and English in the first three months. Thereafter they will be imparted government schools syllabus so that they could write the tenth exam in 18 months through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

Giving details of the programme, Dr. M.A. Qadeer (Shaheen Schools), Syed Aneesuddin (Sahatiya Trust), Prof. Amirullah Khan (Economist), Maulana Ghyas Rashadi (Safa Baitul Maal) told press persons here on Monday that 50 madrassa, mostly in UP, Bihar, Rajasthan and Assam, have been chosen for execution of the programme. Huffaz in the age group of 14 to 18 years will be coached in the modern subjects. In the coming years more madrassas would be brought under the ambit of Madrassa Plus, said Dr. Qadeer who has successfully tried the Hafiz Plus programme for the Shaheen group of schools.

For the madrassa students the whole thing will be free of cost. Food, accommodation and examination fee will be taken care of with the help of NGOs. The idea is to improve the economic status of madrassa students, who mostly remain unemployed or underemployed. “This project was actually visualised by eminent scholar, Maulana Abul Hasan Nadvi,” Maulana Rashadi said and denied that it would deprive madrassas and mosques of religious scholars.

Presently the madrassa system of education is under threat in parts of the country. The Madrassa Plus project is intended to protect the seminaries and also provide the students there best of education on all fronts of life, Prof. Amirullah Khan said.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in The Siasat Daily

Dated March 13,2023.

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It is a madrassa with a difference. It is not the run-of-the-mill seminary where just Islamic studies and the teachings of Quran and Hadith are imparted. Along with these basic subjects, the Al Mahad Al Aali Al Islami keeps its pupils abreast with the latest developments in different fields. They know all about micro-blogging, zero finance, digital currency, banking, genetic engineering, finance and stock exchange. They may not be thorough in these subjects but they have sufficient knowledge about them.

n its 23rd year of establishment, this institute of higher Islamic studies situated at Shaheen Nagar beyond Barkas, is breaking new grounds. In keeping with its motto of offering ‘deen with duniya’ (benefits of religion and the material world), Mahad is empowering its students with both religious and modern education. “We want our students to develop well rounded personalities and emerge as confident and responsible citizens,” says Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, Mahad founder and also general secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

Modern subjects are not taboo here. Students are even told about surrogacy and LGBT concepts, something strictly no-no in the conventional madrassas. A fine blend of Islamic and modern education is on display here. Interestingly, students here are encouraged to gain knowledge of other religions as well like Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and Sikhism. The sprawling library of Mahad is home to sacred books of other faiths also.

A strong votary of English language, Maulana Rahmani believes in adopting a holistic approach to knowledge and is all for acquisition of ‘Ilm-e-Nafe’ (useful education). He wants the madrassa pupils to have enough modern day knowledge to face the present day challenges.

Apart from the routine studies, Mahad holds workshops, extension lectures, curricular and co-curricular activities to help students attain intellectual and social growth. Unlike other madrassas, students here are encouraged to explore and clarify their own beliefs and values, speak for themselves and be in a position to respond to individual and institutional prejudice, both overt and covert, based on gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status. And in tune with the present times, the institute offers both on site and offline mode of learning.

This is not all. The Mahad authorities are doing their best to bridge the gap between Ulema and intellectuals. They plan to have dialogue with members of the judiciary and civil services. As such from time to time people from different walks of life are invited to the madrassa to see and interact with the Mahad students. At its 20th graduation ceremony held recently, invitees were pleasantly surprised by the activities of Mahad and the expertise gained by the students in different spheres of life. Maulana Salahuddin Saifi, a motivational speaker from Gujarat, who was the chief guest, was taken aback by the knowledge and skills of oratory displayed by the Mahad students.

Students who passed out of Mahad portals and made a name in other fields were facilitated on the occasion. Syed Mustafa Hashmi, the Hyderabad student who cracked the civil services exam, was honoured along with a couple of journalists, doctors and social activists for their community service. The awardees included J.S. Ifthekhar, Syed Mohammed, Abu Aimal, Dr. Makhdoom Mohiuddin, Dr. Lateef Atear and Dr. Junaid. Later in the evening more than a hundred students, who mastered Sahih Bukhari (collection of Hadith), were given away certificates.

J.S.Ifthekhar,

Hyderabad based journalist.

Article published in The Siasat Daily

Dated March 7,2023.

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