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FAQ-IRM Smart Schools

FAQs for IRM SMART School Project

Q1- Why parents do not send their children to any Government or private school?

There are several reasons for parents which hinder them to send their children to government or private schools. Following are few of them;

• Absence of nearby school campus.
• Financial implications.
• Poor infrastructure of government schools.
• Absence of multi-grade syllabus/system.
• Cultural implications for girls.
• Lack of transportation.
• Non acceptance of out of school children for admissions in regular education system.
• Loss of an earning hand (Child labor) to support their families.
• Low capacity of public/private schools to accommodate a large number of students.

Due to above reasons Pakistan’s literacy rate is still hovering around 58% since last two years and overall approximately 6.5 million children are out of school.

Q2- Why are we setting up one room schools?

IRM’s mission is tofacilitate education and learning opportunities. Since setting up one room schools is a very cost effectivemodal for children coming from underprivileged and marginalized families who don’t have easy access to public/private schools. Moreover, this will provide decent livelihood for poor but educated girls/women who have to face mobility restrictions from their families to go out for jobs. IRM will pay a monthly salary to the teacher and he/she will also be allowed to charge a very low tuition fee (Rs. 50 per month) from the students who can pay.

Q3- How can we pay to the teacher?

Our approach is participatory, IRM School would be initiated with involvement of community and other stake holders like NGO/INGOs, academic institutes, Government departments and philanthropists to support this noble cause. Moreover, we will be collecting Charity/Zakat from different sources (industries/individuals) within or outside Pakistan to support this programme and school teacherswill be paid PKR 4,000/- (on monthly basis) through direct bank transfer in their accounts.

Q4- Why we are asking parents to pay the fee?

Payment of a nominal school fee of Rs. 50 per student will help in achieving following objectives;

• To build a sense of responsibility and ownership amongst parents and students.
• To increase the level of commitmentof both teachers and community.
• To create a sense of entrepreneurship among the teachers.

Q5- How do we ensure the quality of learning?

We ensure the quality by close monitoring through weekly, monthly and quarterly assessments of the students.

Q6- How does the donor know about the quality?

Donorsmay assess the quality by visiting our website which will be displaying detailed information about our schools, teachers and students or by conducting physical visits to IRM SMART Schools. Moreover, our quarterly&annual activity reports will also be published on our web site on regular basis.

Q7- What is the monitoring system?

Our comprehensive monitoring system consists of following key elements;

• Daily monitoring visits by our teams.
• Monthly monitoring reports, Quarterly activity reports and Annual Progress Reports.
• Case studies of success stories.
• Research reports on various initiatives.
• Formation of community based groups called Parent Education Committees to get the feedback about quality and progress of schools.
• Biannual study/classroom assessments of students.
• Updated MIS record on web site.

Q8- What is the future of these kids?

The basic objective of IRM SMART Schools is to bring out of school children back to the mainstream education through provision of low-cost primary education. Upon completion of primary education in IRM schools, the students will fulfill the pre-requisites of the secondary school and will be able to join mainstream education according to their age groups. Moreover, if students do not want to continue the studies after getting primary education, IRM will endeavor to provide vocational training to these students through our core programme. This will give them an opportunity to earn a decent livelihood which will help protectingthe future of these students.

Q9- Will the children get what we assume?

Yes, we are sure to bring back out of school children to the mainstream education withthe support of community and dedication of our teachers and other team members.

Q10- Where will the IRM SMART Schools be registered?

IRM schools will be registered with the respective local municipalities/government entities as per applicable laws/regulations.

Q11- Which curriculum IRM SMART Schools will be adopting?

IRM Schools will adopt Government syllabiapplicable for the respective jurisdiction.

Q12- What is the targeted age group of students studying in IRM schools?

The targeted age group of students is from 4 to 15 years.

Q13- What is the teaching methodology of the IRM SMART Schools?

Multi-grade teaching methodology is being implemented in order to cater to the needs of students from grade 1 to 5.

 Q14- How does IRM cater the needs of students of class 1-5?

By providing quality education through multi-grade education system with the sole objective to graduate these students to mainstream education.

Q15- Are we paying any stipend to the children?

No, we are not paying any stipend to these children.

Q16- What about the students who can’t afford to pay school fee?

Specific training has been provided to the teachers to keep harmony in the classroom and also ensuring the confidentiality of fee payment in order to discourage a sense of deprivation amongst students, who cannot afford to pay the fee.

Q17- Why do I sponsor a child?

This is our moral and ethical obligation to contribute for a social cause which will help in transforming the lives of thousands of underprivileged children and will ensure a better future for them.

Q18- How can I become part of the Solution?

You can be part of the solution by‘’Sponsoring a Child” which allows you to contribute directly by undertaking the responsibility of educating one underprivileged child. With a contribution of just PKR. 4,000 you can sponsor one child to provide him/her with the gift of education and knowledge for a full year. You may sponsor the expense of the entire school by donating PKR. 80,000 per year.  

 Q18- How can we develop & manage the schools?

Following are key initiatives for sustainability and management of IRM SMART Schools;

• Community mobilization and awareness about education and IRM Schools.
• Selection and hiring of most suitable school teachers.
• Contract/MOU with teachers.
• Weekly monitoring visits to ensure progress.
• Prepare monthly reports.
• Payment of Teacher’s salary on monthly basis.
• Teacherson-the-jobtraining.
• Providing furniture & Stationary to schools.

Q19- What are the advantages of Parent Education Committees?

• A participatory and healthy environment will be developed in marginalized communities.
• The illiterate/semi-literate parents will be able to know about importance of education.
• Parents being the members,will take part in the process of development of schools.
• Parents will be involved in the learning process of their children which will develop a sense of responsibility amongst them and will encourage them to send their children to school.
• This committee will also be able to maintain checks and balances on teachers.

Q20- When and how I can donate?

Every rupee donated goes a long way towards helping girls and boys who have been denied access to basic education. You can donate anytime via cheque or electronically to the IRM School account to ensure that the money you contribute goes directly into helping the cause with utmost transparency.

IRM is on a mission to broaden the network of Smart Schools across Pakistan and we need your support to fulfill this cause of educating future generations. It is your Zakat/Charity that will help brighten the lives of these young children.

 Q21- If a person sponsors a full school, would it be possible for IRM to display the name of his father/mother on the school display board?

Yes you have the opportunity to adopt one or even a cluster of 20 IRM Schools as a Sadqa-e-Jaria for your beloved ones & the schools will also be named after them.

Q22- What is the children learning mechanism?

We have introduced a new learning mechanism which is different from traditional education system. We will be using joy full learning techniques and setting up student-centered classrooms as opposed to teacher-centered classrooms. It will ensure active participation of students.

Q23- How frequently tests are measured?

Teacher will be assessing the students on regular basis through monthly tests and quarterly/annually exams, while IRM monitoring team will assess the students on regular basis.

Q24- What is the selection criteria for a teacher?

A teacher having a minimum qualification of matriculation with prior experience to teach the children would be eligible to apply for IRM Smart Schools as teacher. The teacher should have a small room in her home or any other place for converting the same into a class room. Moreover, the teacher must have a strong determination to teach the poor&needy children and preferably be living in the same vicinity.

 Q25- How IRM will train a teacher?

IRM has designed rigorous training programs and refresher courses for the teachers on multi-grading teaching methodology to cater to the needs of the students, which will be offered during initial probation period and will be continued throughout the program.

Q26- How IRM will maintain the quality of education by paying a comparatively low salary to teachers?

IRM’s collaborative model will build virtuous and moral values in the teachers through training programs in order to encourage them to perform their duties with faithfulness and devotion. Moreover, IRM’s effective monitoring mechanism will ensure the quality of education in the schools.

Q27- What are the tools for Quality Assurance?

        i.            Students:

By day to day visits to schools, terminal assessment reports and feedback of parents.

      ii.            Teachers:

Daily visits and student assessments conducted by IRM monitoring teams.

    iii.            Schools:

Overall school environment, feedback from parent education committee, students result and communityfeedback.

Q28- Who can be a donor?

Any Individual, NGO/INGOs, Private/Public limited Companies operating in different Industrial sectors, Educational Institutes.

Q29- Provincial Coverage of IRM Schools?

Presently we are operating in Punjab, Sindh and KPK provinces.

Q30- How IRM will encourage schools for sustainability?

IRM’s basic philosophy for this program is to believe in people and harness their potential to help themselves. The same philosophy will help to achieve the greater objective of creating a self-sustained society. IRM will provide continuous support to the schools, however, at the same time the teachers will be encouraged to expand the operations up to a level which will allow them to operate the schools on their own. To achieve this long term objective IRM will provide required training and support to the teachers.

Q31- How IRM SMART Schools will be different from government schools?

We are different from Government Schools as we work for development and capacity building of teachers with customizedtraining. Moreover, we closely monitor the students learning behavior by frequent visits andconducting student assessments. We also offer additional courses for students such as Civic Education in which we focus on the development of ethical and social behavior.In addition to above, awareness about cleanliness and hygiene is also an integral part of our course work.

Our model will ensure that after completing education up tograde 5, the children (at the age of 14/15) will have the opportunity to either join mainstream formal education or join an employable vocational skill programme. IRM will endeavor to provide them vocational training through its own programmes; this will give them an opportunity to earn a decent livelihood.

Q32- What are our future plans?

• To have 1000, one room schools in 3 years.
• To provide quality eduacation  to students.
• Building up an ethical & healthy social behavior among students.
• Offering breakfast to students, consisting of one paratha and a cup of tea.
• Providing student’s uniform, books and stationary items.
• Exposure of students to Information Technology.

 Q33-IRM’s Bank Details to donate Charity/Zakat?

For further detail : +92-320-5353468 iram@irm.edu.pk