Mausumi Mahanta, HOD, History attends workshop in Finland

Mrs Mausumi Mahanta, HOD, History, Maria’s Public School attended a four-day rigorous workshop titled “Understanding the Finnish Phenomena in Education and Leadership” organized by the CII in collaboration with the University of Helsinki in Finland. As she has observed, the Finnish Government believes in equity in education for all. Hence schools in Finland are run by Municipalities where children spend a greater part of their day and everyone, students, teachers, and other staff members have a sumptuous healthy meal, free of cost. Education is absolutely free right up to the Masters Level and Finnish students have always performed exceptionally well in the PISA. Private schools are non-existent because the standard of education is very high in government run schools and the infrastructure is such that it can take anyone’s breath away. There is no branding of schools. A centralized national education has worked well here in Finland because of two key words trust and responsibility with a high degree of accountability bereft of corruption. The Finnish people pay a very high tax but they are all happy tax payers. It will be futile to expect the same standards considering the size and population of India, but yet a lot more needs to be done by the Central and State Governments, after all the future of our nation rests in the hands of the younger generation, she said.

The Founder and Managing Trustee attends BETT conference in Europe
The Malta Experience May, 2015

A delegation of ten students from Maria’s Public School led by Principal Alpana K Phukan left for Malta on the 9th May, 2015 to take part in a week-long academic programme organised by the Edward de Bono Institute of the University of Malta in collaboration with the Embassy of Malta in New Delhi. The programme was initiated by Founder and Managing Trustee Mrs Nellie Ahmed Tanweer who had personally visited Malta in November, 2014 and thought it was a worthwhile visit to this institute of great repute. It was indeed a milestone in the lives of the ten bright students from a remote corner of the northeast as the programme was both fruitful as well as enriching.

The academic calendar that was planned was perfect to a T. Professors of the stature of Dr Leoni Baldocchino, Dr Margaret Mangion, Ms Shirley Pulis Xerxes, Mrs Tania Farrugia, Ms Natalie Nwoke and Prof Sandra Dingli of the Edward de Bono Institute conducted the workshops of different aspects of Creativity, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Critical Thinking and Foresight – skills which are prerequisites of everyday life in this complex world. These courses will not only help the participating students but also act as eye-openers to their peers in school, when the former hold classes for them on the subjects. The trips to the Microsoft Innovation Centre and Aurobindo Pharma, a plant for testing medicines exported from India did much to develop their entrepreneurship skills and think of start-up companies.

The picturesque and tranquil sights of the island country were like a healing balm on the souls. The captivating forts and palaces, megalithic temples, old houses and buildings speak a lot for the government’s effort in restoring these ancient sites. The majestic Mediterranean flowing along the coast adds to the grandeur and awe of Malta. The warmth and hospitality of the Maltese people gladdened the hearts and each one of the eleven will remember the ten glorious days spent in this microcosm of the Mediterranean.


Managing Trustee visits Canadian Universities in May, 2015

Mrs Nellie Ahmed Tanweer, the Founder and Managing Trustee of Maria’s Public School recently visited Canada to take part in the familiarisation mission of 11 education officials from India and Kenya to Atlantic Canada. This was a Government of Canada initiation to provide the best quality education to international students in Atlantic Canada’s universities, community colleges, schools and research institutes. The delegates were selected by the participating Atlantic universities and schools based on their schools’ potential to send qualified international students to Atlantic Canada. Maria’s Public School was the only school from northeast India to be invited as a part of the delegation. The other schools that sent representatives were Indus International School, Bangalore International School, Hyderabad International School, Oakridge International School, Bangalore, Mussoorie International School, Delhi Public School, Delhi, Loreto House, Kolkata, Convent of Jesus and Mary, JJ International School, Ahmedabad and Mombasa International School, Kenya.

The delegation visited 16 different educational institutions in the region for two weeks, experiencing firsthand the quality and diversity of education programmes and facilities throughout Atlantic Canada. International students in Canada come from 194 different countries around the world. Students choose to study in Canada for its safety, strong education system, tolerant society, opportunities for fulltime work and cost advantage.


Maria’s Public School to send High-Achieving Students to the State University of New York
The State University of New York (SUNY OSWEGO) in association with EduExcellence, the Indian organization for introducing new culture in education, has agreed to offer International Academic Scholarship to high achieving students of Maria’s Public School, Guwahati. This has been possible following an MoU signed between Mrs. Nellie Ahmed Tanweer, the Founder & Managing Trustee of Maria’s Public School, Guwahati, and Lorrie Clemo, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, SUNY OSWEGO. SUNY, the largest public University in US offers some of the best programs in graduation and post-graduation for bright students from schools across India and also has some of the best Professional Development Programmes for the teachers. Establishing further educational partnerships and tie-ups with Maria’s Public School, identified as an excellent and enterprising institution, SUNY will be supporting recruitment, development and matriculation of students (F-1 degree seeking undergraduates), where the students may apply for enrolment and be accepted into SUNY Oswego prior to entering or during their final year, as part of early admission/conditional admission process. High Achieving Students from the senior secondary have already been selected to apply at SUNY.
Indian School Heads Delegation to visit Malta-
Founder & Managing Trustee as one of the esteemed members.

The University of Malta together with the High Commission of Malta in India had organized a high profile education delegation that had visited Malta from 4th – 11 th November 2014. The group comprised of selected high school principals, heads and owners of educational institutions from across India were led by Ms. Megha Srivastav, Head of Operations for the University of Malta in India. Mrs. Nellie Ahmed Tanweer, Founder & Managing Trustee, Maria’s Public School, Guwahati, Assam was one of the esteemed group members.

Founder and Managing Trustee attends 7th INTERNATIONAL STUDY TOUR FOR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS & OWNERS at the State University of New York, US Founder & Managing Trustee, Mrs. Nellie Ahmed Tanweer is attending the 7th International Study Tour for School Principals and Owners at the State University of New York, US. In this rejuvenating & educational programme, the State University of New York has prepared an enriching content for the conference that will help the principals and owners in understanding the US Educational Practices with a new perspective.

 

7th International Study Tour for School Principals and Owners has been organized from the 31st May-8th June, 2014.