Tag: Education

Categories
Business Economy Education

Big Gains Ahead for Education

The report indicated that enrolments in K-12 educational institutions, primarily schools, are expected to keep growing, driven by increasing demand for high-quality education and greater affordability as incomes rise…reports Asian Lite News

Riding on higher enrolments, which allows for upward fee revisions, and students scouting for new course offerings, schools and colleges are expected to report 12-14 per cent revenue growth this fiscal, according to a report on Tuesday.

The growth will be despite the high base following three consecutive years of high-teenage growth.

Improved enrolments and better utilisation of assets should cover increasing salary costs for faculty and other ancillary expenses for new courses and, thereby, aid in maintaining the operating margin at around 28 per cent, revealed the report by rating agency CRISIL.

In addition, as existing courses and seats remain highly utilised, educational institutes will continue to make capital expenditures (capex) to improve infrastructure and enhance intake capacities. However, strong cash flow (from higher revenue and timely realisation of fees) limits reliance on debt for capex and supports the credit risk profile.

This was also seen in an analysis of 96 educational institutes rated by CRISIL Ratings, accounting for almost Rs 20,000 crore fee income.

The report showed that enrolments for the educational institutes in the K-12 segment, largely schools, will continue to rise due to — rising demand for high-quality education and improved affordability as income levels rise.

This comes as the government aims to increase the gross enrolment ratio for higher education to 50 per cent by 2035, from under 30 per cent currently, by promoting new institutions while expanding and improving current institutions and increasing penetration among the addressable population.

Even as intake capacity increases, utilisation rates for schools and higher-education institutes may improve to 86-87 per cent by this fiscal from 85 per cent last fiscal.

“Occupancies in Computer Science courses in engineering colleges remained healthy in fiscal 2024 despite subdued placements. Moreover, new courses on Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Machine Learning were in high demand. Occupancies in these courses will be further boosted by better hiring signals for fiscal 2025,” said Himank Sharma, Director, CRISIL Ratings.

“Medical colleges and schools, too, continue to register high enrolments, driving fee income growth. Hence, educational institutes have the flexibility to undertake periodic fee revisions, which will result in fee income being higher by 12-14 per cent in the current fiscal,” he added.

Despite the increase in fee base, the working capital requirement will remain minimal as fee receivables have been controlled at 45-50 days over the past few fiscals. Further, gearing and interest coverage ratios will improve to around 0.41 times and 7.0 times, respectively, this fiscal, as against 0.46 times and 6.2 times last fiscal, the report said.

ALSO READ: Emerging Trends Shaping Festive Shopping in 2024

Categories
-Top News Asia News Education

Pakistan’s dysfunctional education system demands strong measures

Interestingly, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has advised Pakistan to adopt India’s scheme ULLAS to fix its dysfunctional education system and impart quality training to its citizens, writes Dr Sakariya Kareem

Pakistan’s collapsing education system is a grim reminder of the state of affairs in the country. The shoddy picture of the education scenario is evident from recent data that shows approximately 25 million children are out of school and the nation’s literacy rate is only 60 per cent.

A complete transformation is immediately needed to reform the setup holding to ransom the future of the country.

The financially struggling country recently hosted a crucial meeting of the federal Education Task Force which proposed increasing funding, enrolment and the overall literacy rate but the question of improving quality remains unanswered.

Upgrading the quality of facilities cannot be the only solution to all problems. The country needs inspirational teachers.

Voicing the need to improve the quality of teachers, Pakistan’s leading daily The Express Tribune wrote: “Putting billions into laptops while teachers struggle to make ends meet is a reflection of our broken system. The priority on this front must be teachers’ salaries and training.”

The editorial urged the need to create better federal-provincial coordination in the field of enhancing education quality.

“Better federal-provincial coordination is also needed because the promised benefits of devolution under the 18th Amendment have been undercut by duplication of work in some areas and lack of synergy in others. Not only does this leave gaps in quality and facilities, it wastes precious funds,” the editorial said.

The federal and provincial governments should immediately start working together to ensure the school dropout figure can be reduced.

The government should also focus on removing other hurdles on the path of enhancing education.

The government should shape the syllabus in such a way that it helps people improve their critical thinking skills and modern technological competencies.

Another leading Pakistani newspaper Dawn News wrote in the editorial that addressing socio-economic barriers that keep children out of school, such as poverty and gender inequality, must become a central part of the government’s education strategy.

The editorial said: “Without sustained investment and innovative solutions, Pakistan risks falling further behind on its educational goals. The time for rhetoric has passed. Pakistan needs actionable, well-researched plans that not only address immediate challenges but also build a resilient, forward-thinking education system, which is capable of preparing its youth for the demands of the modern world.”

An improved education system will help Pakistan create a brighter future for its children who can shine in their own fields. Pakistan wants to create a sustainable and strong future of its own and in securing that state the country should focus more on improving its healthcare and education system.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in May this year declared an ‘Education Emergency’ across Pakistan to enrol around 26 million out-of-school children and promote literacy to make the country regain its lost space.

“Today, with iron conviction, and the support of provinces, we will handle the challenge of 26 million out-of-school children. We will bring them back to school…I declare from this moment an Emergency in Education all over Pakistan…The way we did it in Punjab, we will do it in Pakistan,” the prime minister said addressing the National Conference on Education Emergency,  according to Associated Press of Pakistan.

The report quoted Unicef Representative in Pakistan Abdullah A. Fadil as saying over 70% of children of age 10 in Pakistan could not read or understand text. Despite constitutional guarantees, education in Pakistan was neither yet compulsory nor free.

Interestingly, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has advised Pakistan to adopt India’s scheme ULLAS to fix its dysfunctional education system and impart quality training to its citizens.

The Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) was launched by the Government of India in July 2023 to help non-literates and adults, who missed out on formal schooling.  

Now ADB advises Pakistan to adopt that scheme.

The Manila-based lender’s recommendation came in response to Pakistan’s request for financial support to improve its education system and impart education to all out-of-school children, according to a Business Today report quoting The Express Tribune.

Fighting battles against political rivals should not be the only focus of the current government. Rather, if measures are taken to improve the quality of education and help younger generations, people will remember the current politicians as saviours of the falling system that has rotten to the core.

ALSO READ: Islamabad on Edge as PTI Protests Intensify

Categories
INDIA 2024 India News Politics

11 in council of ministers are 12th pass, 57 graduate or above

An additional 10 ministers have professional graduate degrees, indicating specialized education in fields such as law, engineering or medicine…reports Asian Lite News

Eleven out of 71 ministers in the new council of ministers have declared their educational qualification to be 12th standard while 57 ministers have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above, according to a new report by poll rights body ADR.       

A recent report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) provides a comprehensive analysis of the educational qualifications of the Indian ministers, revealing a diverse range of academic backgrounds among the country’s political leadership.

The report, which scrutinized 71 ministers, highlights significant trends in educational attainment. The analysis shows that 15 per cent of the ministers, accounting for 11 out of the 71, have declared their highest educational qualification as 12th standard.

In contrast, a substantial majority of the ministers have attained higher education.

The report revealed that 80 per cent of the ministers, totaling 57, have qualifications of a graduate level or above. This group is further broken down into several categories, reflecting various levels of advanced education.

Specifically, 14 ministers have declared themselves as graduates, holding a basic university degree.

An additional 10 ministers have professional graduate degrees, indicating specialized education in fields such as law, engineering or medicine.

The largest subgroup among the highly educated ministers consists of those with postgraduate degrees at 26.

Furthermore, seven ministers have achieved the highest level of academic attainment by earning doctorate degrees.

Apart from these, there are three ministers who are diploma holders. These ministers have completed specialized programmes that provide vocational or technical training.

First session of 18th Lok Sabha to being from June 24

The first session of the 18th Lok Sabha will be held from June 24 and conclude on July 3 for oath/affirmation of newly elected Members, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday.

The 264th Session of Rajya Sabha will also commence on June 27 and conclude on July 3, the minister said.

“First Session of 18th Lok Sabha is being summoned from 24.6.24 to 3.7.24 for oath/affirmation of newly elected Members, Election of Speaker, President’s Address and discussion thereon. 264th Session of Rajya Sabha will commence on 27.6.24 and conclude on 3.7.24.”

President Droupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on June 27

The last session of the 17th Lok Sabha (Budget session) was held between January 31 and February 10, 2024.

Lok Sabha had 274 sittings in which 202 Bills were introduced and 222 bills were passed. Rajya Sabha had 271 sittings, in which 31 Bills were introduced and 220 bills were passed. In total 221 Bills were passed by both the Houses and became Acts, during the term of the 17th Lok Sabha.

During the 17th Lok Sabha one of the most important business transacted was the abrogation of certain provisions from Article 370 and Presidential Orders thereunder for ensuring equal opportunities to all sections of Society in Jammu & Kashmir particularly with the restoration of applicability of the provisions of the Constitution of India and all socio-economic legislations thereby ensuring rule of law and equity. Further for ensuring better administration and for curbing terrorism, the State of Jammu & Kashmir was reorganized with the formation of two Union Territories – Jammu &Kashmir and Ladakh.

Also, three landmark Bills relating to the criminal justice system to ensure victim-centric justice namely the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 replacing the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 were passed by both the Houses of Parliament. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Naidu meets Governor; stakes claim to form govt

Categories
Arab News Education UAE News

UAE President orders settlement of student financial dues

The initiative covers students residing in the UAE and registered in UAE government schools, where all their outstanding dues for their studies until the 2023-2024 academic year will be settled… reports Asian Lite News

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has ordered the settlement of outstanding financial dues for UAE resident students registered in the country’s government schools for previous years of study, totaling AED155 million.

The initiative taken by H.H Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan epitomises the values of giving rooted in the UAE community and is part of his approach to provide support to students and enhance their drive to succeed in their studies.

The initiative covers students residing in the UAE and registered in UAE government schools, where all their outstanding dues for their studies until the 2023-2024 academic year will be settled, in coordination with the Emirates Schools Establishment.

ALSO READ :UAE supports electric vehicle engineers of the future

Categories
-Top News PAKISTAN

Pak President Stresses Importance of Education and Healthcare

He said China focused on the health and education sectors, which helped the country lift nearly 800 million people out of poverty, adding that Pakistan should follow the same development model…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistani President Arif Alvi has called on the nation to work together to fight the challenges of poverty, malnutrition, stunting and maternal and neonatal deaths.

The President made the remarks during an event, noting that 26 million children in Pakistan remain out of school, Xinhua news agency reported.

He said China focused on the health and education sectors, which helped the country lift nearly 800 million people out of poverty, adding that Pakistan should follow the same development model.

Highlighting the role of women in the country’s growth, Alvi said that the provision of health and education facilities to them is an important element in achieving the goal of women empowerment in Pakistan.

He underscored the importance of providing a safe working environment to women in order to include them in the workforce and make them contribute to the economic growth of the South Asian country.

Alvi Sparks Controversy by Rejecting National Assembly Session Summoning

 Pakistan President Arif Alvi has rejected a summary to summon the National Assembly session, sources said, in which newly-elected MNAs will take oath, according to a media report.

The President, as per sources, said that all reserved seats should be allocated first before the summoning of the session, Geo News reported.

With only three days left in the Constitution-mandated deadline to summon the session of the National Assembly, President Alvi has come under severe criticism from the political parties, particularly the PPP and the PML-N, for resorting to ‘delaying tactics’ instead of convening the session of the lower House of the Parliament, Dawn reported.

A summary requisitioning the session of the Assembly was sent to the President by the parliamentary affairs division four days ago, but there has been no official response from Alvi, Dawn reported.

PML-N and PPP leaders criticised the President for not summoning the session, with PPP leader Shazia Marri saying the President should not abuse his Constitutional powers.

“President Alvi should not be loyal to an individual but the Constitution,” she said, adding that if the President does not summon the session within the prescribed period, he will be remembered among the violators of the Constitution, Dawn reported.

ALSO READ-Pakistan’s Persistent Economic Predicament

Categories
Education Lite Blogs

India’s Education Sector Embraces Digital Revolution

The Drivers of Digital Adoption: Several important factors are driving the rapid adoption of online learning in India…writes Aroon Kumar

India’s educational sector is experiencing a profound transformation as it shifts towards online education, a change propelled by the dual forces of technological innovation and the unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic. The prominence of Edtech’s future intensified during the COVID-19 impact on education, prompting a significant allocation of Rs. 1.12 lakh crore in the fiscal year 2023-24 budget—an impressive 8.26 percent surge compared to the previous years.

This pivotal transition is altering not just how education is delivered—moving from traditional classroom settings to digital platforms—but also significantly expanding its scope and accessibility. It’s a shift that promises to democratize education, making it more available and inclusive for students across all backgrounds.

The Drivers of Digital Adoption: Several important factors are driving the rapid adoption of online learning in India.

Digital Connectivity Revolution Amidst Pandemic Pressure: The confluence of affordable data plans and government-led digital infrastructure initiatives has dramatically increased internet access in India, its vast and drastic penetration in India can be confirmed by India Internet Report 2023 that says now even rural India has achieved around 425 million internet users surpassing its urban counterparts, indicating a strong 30% growth. This pivotal development, amplified by the urgent demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitated a swift pivot to online learning for educational continuity. This synchronized revolution not only bridged geographical and socio-economic gaps but also accelerated the seamless integration of digital platforms into the teaching and learning process.

Technological Transformations: The surge in online learning in India is propelled by advancements in digital technologies. Breakthroughs in learning management systems, interactive platforms, and mobile applications have revolutionized the accessibility and engagement of online education, accommodating diverse learning experiences. Aligned with the NEP’s bold vision, India aims for global academic eminence by 2024. Pledging a 50 percent Gross Enrollment Ratio by 2035, the NEP 2020’s focus remains on technology as its key area. Beyond immersive realities, transformative technologies like blockchain are securing educational records and adaptive learning platforms are tailoring content to individual student strengths and weaknesses. These driving forces behind the adoption of online education in India are collectively enhancing the educational experience and making the sector huge, aligned with the needs of the digital age so much so that the Edtech sector is all set to reach the USD 4 billion mark by 2025.

Defining Features of Online Learning: Online education stands out for its learner-centric approach, which provides flexibility and customization that traditional classrooms frequently cannot. According to a report by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, 83 percent of Indian students prefer online learning platforms owing to flexibility and convenience.  Technology, particularly AI and ML, is crucial in creating personalized learning experiences that can adapt to the unique needs of each student. For instance, AI-driven platforms can analyze a student’s performance and learning habits to recommend personalized study schedules, resources, and revision strategies which is the need of the hour with the transformation in education in the digital age. A survey reveals that 62 percent of Indian employees anticipate a significant technology-driven shift in the skills required for their roles in the next five years. Interactive and immersive technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality, are further enhancing online learning. These tools offer hands-on experiences and real-world simulations, providing learners with practical skills and a deeper understanding of complex subjects. An example would be medical students who can perform virtual surgeries and even history students who can explore ancient civilizations through immersive virtual tours.

Charting the Future Path: The journey towards an inclusive, technology-driven educational landscape in India is filled with opportunities and challenges. As online education expands, challenges arise in ensuring consistent and fair access to technology and internet connectivity. Overcoming these challenges is crucial for unlocking the full potential of online learning. Notably, the NEP 2020 advocates for diverse educational approaches, but the current taxation of technology and learning hardware at 18% or 28% hinders affordability. GST relief on school solutions can enhance accessibility, and transformation for affordable, high-quality education, thus mitigating the challenges, and taking a step towards a progressive future. 

With the concerted efforts of the educational community, policymakers, and industry leaders, the path forward is promising. The objective is to build an education system that is accessible, affordable, and adaptable, meeting the diverse needs of learners in the 21st century, especially since it’s the digital era.

As India forges ahead in its digital education journey, it envisions a future where learning is boundless, empowering every student with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

ALSO READ-Global Delegation Visits Gujarat’s Education Review Centre

Categories
Education Lite Blogs

Gifts That Educate and Entertain

Even in a time when kids spend more time with their devices, DIY Kits remain incredibly popular. Offering kids the opportunity to explore new activities consistently sparks curiosity…reports Asian Lite News

Getting the perfect gift for anybody, especially for kids is an art. In an era where the digital space shapes their preferences, traditional gifts are completely out of the question. Gone are the days when kids would be excited with a model train set or a collection of their favourite books. Today, even kids want gifts that are well-suited to their individual needs and ones that fit well with their personalities.

To make this experience easier for you, here’s a list of the best birthday gifts to give kids this year that might help you out:

Bringing Learning to Life

Even in a time when kids spend more time with their devices, DIY Kits remain incredibly popular. Offering kids the opportunity to explore new activities consistently sparks curiosity. Additionally, tactile experiences play a crucial role in accelerating children’s understanding and learning of various concepts. Particularly beneficial for primary and middle school kids navigating the fundamentals of diverse subjects, these DIY Kits serve as a fantastic avenue to infuse enjoyment into their learning process.

Nurturing Young Chefs

If you know a budding chef, there’s nothing better than gifting them the tools of the trade. From colourful mixing bowls and kid-friendly knives to mini-sized measuring cups and silicone baking moulds, you’ll discover a diverse range of cooking and baking tools specifically designed to be both easy and safe for kids to use. These tools make the culinary journey exciting and accessible for young chefs and can turn any kitchen into a playground of creativity. Encourage their passion for gastronomy with these thoughtful and practical gifts.

A Bedtime Wonderland

Elevate any kid’s bedtime with my Trident Juniors Collection, a whimsical blend of dreams and warmth for your child’s sanctuary. The collection comes in a variety of themes from wildlife safaris to space exploration, ensuring a delightful option for every little dreamer. Crafted from the best materials, these vibrant bed sheets, themed pillowcases, and cosy comforters guarantee a night of unparalleled comfort.

A Flavour Bonanza

The best thing about birthdays is the gifts, but wouldn’t it be great if you could get a gift even if it wasn’t your special day? There are tons of snack hamper subscriptions that you can choose from. You can go for a full year’s subscription or even choose a shorter term. Many of these subscription services also let you customise your order. So if you want to be someone’s favourite aunt or uncle, then this is probably the best gift choice for you!

Curate Art Supplies Hamper

Craft a personalised art supplies box with markers, coloured pencils, paper, and various craft items. This considerate and budget-friendly present can be effortlessly curated from nearby art supply stores or discounted shops, encouraging a world of creativity and self-expression. Spark any kid’s artistic flair with this carefully curated gift, providing endless possibilities for imaginative creations.

ALSO READ-Indian Republic Day celebrations by IIW– Connecting British Indian Kids to their roots

Categories
Education India News Politics

English and Math Hurdles: ASER 2023 Distressing Reality

The report notes that 25% of the 14-18 age group cannot fluently read a class 2 level text in their regional language….reports Asian Lite News

The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023, titled ‘Beyond Basics,’ paints a concerning picture of education in rural India. The survey, conducted in 28 districts across 26 states, involved 34,745 youths in the age group of 14-18 years. The findings revealed significant challenges in foundational skills, particularly in reading and arithmetic.

In rural India, 42% of children aged 14 to 18 cannot read simple English sentences, and more than half struggle with basic division problems. The study focused on one rural district in each major state, with the exception of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, where two districts were surveyed. These alarming statistics highlight a substantial gap in educational attainment among the surveyed youths.

The report notes that 25% of the 14-18 age group cannot fluently read a class 2 level text in their regional language. Additionally, over half of these youths face difficulties with division problems typically expected to be mastered in classes 3 and 4. Only 43.3% can perform such problems correctly. English proficiency is also a concern, with only 57.3% able to read sentences, and of those, 73.5% can comprehend their meanings.

Interestingly, across enrollment categories, females outperform males in reading a Class 2 level text in their regional language, while males fare better in arithmetic and English reading. The report emphasizes the need for catch-up efforts in foundational literacy and numeracy for a significant portion of the 14-18 age group.

The survey delves into practical skills as well. Approximately 45% of the students can calculate the number of hours a child has slept based on bedtime and wake-up time. However, challenges arise when applying these skills to real-world scenarios, such as measuring an object’s length with a ruler. While 85% can calculate correctly if the object is at the ‘0’ mark, less than 40% can do so when the object is moved.

The report underscores the impact of low foundational numeracy on daily tasks that require practical application of measurement, the unitary method, and financial computations. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is acknowledged for recognizing the need for ‘catch up’ programs for those who have fallen behind academically.

ASER, a citizen-led household survey initiated in 2005, provides crucial insights into the state of children’s schooling and learning in rural India

ALSO READ: Ukraine Delays Parliamentary and Presidential Elections

Categories
-Top News Canada Education

Canada Plans Cap on International Students Amid Housing Crisis

The government didn’t specify the extent of reduction the government is planning on making in the immigration system.

Amid the growing unemployment and housing crisis in Canada, Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Saturday said in the next few months, he will be looking at the possibility of putting a cap on the number of international students living in the country, CTV News reported on Saturday.

The minister didn’t specify the extent of reduction the government is planning on making in the immigration system.

In an interview to CTV’s Question Period host Vassy Kapelos, the minister said, “This is a conversation the federal government will need to have with provincial governments “to make sure that the provinces that have not been doing their jobs actually rein in those numbers on a pure volume basis.”

“That volume is disconcerting,” Miller said, with reference to the number of international students in Canada.

“It’s really a system that has gotten out of control,” he added.

Miller said he will be looking at the possibility of setting a cap on international students to help reduce the demand for housing in both the first and second quarters of this year.

Asked why his government is only considering a cap now when the idea was floated months ago, Miller said there’s a need to sort out numbers on a federal level before looking with “a little more granularity” at what individual academic institutions are doing in different provinces, possibly profiting off bringing in more international students, CTV News reported.

“We need to be doing our jobs and making sure that we have a system that actually makes sure people have a financial capability to come to Canada, that we’re actually verifying offer letters,” Miller said, adding, “And now it’s time for us to have a conversation about volumes and the impact that is having in certain areas.”

A cap on international students would not be a “one-size-fits-all solution” to housing shortages across Canada, Miller noted.

On the number of international students coming to Canada, far outpacing the number of homes the federal government is planning to help build, Miller also said housing is only part of the calculation when it comes to immigration targets. The pressing need to bring down the average age of the workforce also needs to be taken into consideration, he said.

While not going into specifics, Miller said a cap on international students is something the federal government is considering, “and will continue to consider.”

“We have a sense of what those numbers would look like, what the reduction of those numbers look like, out of courtesy to my colleagues in the provinces, those are discussions that we’re first going to have around the negotiating table,” he said, adding that the financial needs of academic institutions is also a factor.

The federal government has faced criticism for welcoming an increasing number of immigrants–both permanent and temporary residents–while the country faces an acute housing shortage.

Meanwhile, CTV reported citing The Canadian Press, which cited the internal documents obtained through an access to information request, the federal government was warned by public servants two years ago that its ambitious immigration targets could jeopardise housing affordability.

The Liberals have set targets aiming to bring in 485,000 immigrants this year, and 500,000 in both 2025 and 2026.

Temporary residents, largely comprising international students and migrant workers, are another part of the equation, with more than 300,000 of them arriving in Canada in just the third quarter of last year. (ANI)

Categories
Education Lite Blogs

Rising Above Challenges to Achieve Dream Job

All of them have chosen different programs of Lotus Petal Foundation. Our alumni are our pride. We have a special bond with all of them and share an encouraging journey that we have travelled together…reports Asian Lite News

In the face of adversity, marginalisaed students are emerging as catalysts for positive change within their communities. Through tireless efforts and a commitment to inclusivity, they are reshaping narratives, bridging divides, and championing causes that uplift the underprivileged.

Led by resilient spirit and unwavering determination, these students, hailing from diverse cultural backgrounds, united to create a platform for change.

Despite personal struggles and systemic hurdles, these students became beacons of hope, channelling their own experiences into empathy-driven actions.

Shilpi Jaiswal

Coming from a lower-middle-class family where her father is a driver and her mother a homemaker, Shilpi grew up with 5 siblings in a household run by her father, the sole bread earner. She completed her class 12th and was looking for courses that could give an edge to her career. She joined the Jeevika Skill Development Program when her elder sister’s friend informed her about the program focused on BFSI which was an ESSAI-certified course and the fact that the program offered a 100% job guarantee intrigued her interest. Currently, Shilpi is excelling in her first job as a Donor Servicing Trainee at the Lotus Petal Foundation, with her ace MS Excel skills, while also pursuing her graduation in B.Com (Hons) from Delhi University.

Saloni Raj

Saloni’s childhood was not the usual one. Coming from a broken family her mother, a house-help had to run away from the house with her children to save them from her abusive husband. After a life of struggles on the streets, Saloni joined the Lotus Petal Foundation when she was 14 years old in 2013. With low learning levels, her relationship with education even at the age of 14 was similar to a younger child. However, by 2014, with a customized curriculum catering to her fractured learning, Saloni’s journey to quality education started picking up and by 2018, her results significantly improved. In 2019, by the age of 20, Saloni had cleared the National Medical Entrance Examination (NEET) paving her way to kick-start her medical studies. Currently, she is in the last year of her course and soon she shall become a Doctor.

Gudiya Kumari

With her father running a small food stall and her mother being a tailor, Gudiya grew up in a difficult household. Growing up with 5 siblings, she knew from an early age that she would have to work harder for her dreams of becoming an air hostess. However, life and its challenges had other plans. Gudiya joined as a 1st-year student of the Pratishthan Learning Center- A unique Fast-Track Education Program through which out-of-school teenagers with fractured learning can complete their education in a 5-year-based learning program. She also underwent vocational hospitality training, giving her well-rounded training, enabling her to ace job interviews and finally get her first job as Executive- Software Testing at Unify Dots.

Hritik Sethi

Hailing from a middle-class family, the son of a tailor & a homemaker, he wanted to pursue a course after high school that would give him an edge which is why he enrolled himself in the computer hardware and networking course under the Jeevika Skill Development Program. After rigorous training with both practical and theoretical knowledge along with exposure to industrial training, he was able to grasp the concepts fundamentally giving him a confident grasp on his subjects. Today he is successfully working at his new job while pursuing his graduation from IGNOU. Hritik Sethi is an alumnus of the Computer Hardware & Networking course under the program run by the Lotus Petal Foundation and successfully got his first job in Teleperformance as a Technical Support Engineer. Hritik has bagged the highest package per annum from the Jeevika graduates.

Rahul Saini

Rahul Saini is working as a Technical Engineer with MegaMax. He is an alumnus of the Computer Hardware and Networking course under the same program. He lost his father at an early age and was supported by his mother. Before joining this course, he had already completed his Polytechnic course however, when he got to know about the Jeevika Program’s industry-mapped courses which are ESSAI certified and offer 100% job placement with affordable tuition fees, Rahul became intrigued about the program and enrolled himself in 6 months certification course. Today, he is well-placed in his new job where he is learning the ropes of the professional world while impressing everyone with his computer skills.

All of them have chosen different programs of Lotus Petal Foundation. Our alumni are our pride. We have a special bond with all of them and share an encouraging journey that we have travelled together. They are the living example of the organization’s achievements and the values we stand for – ‘Change Lives, One Child At A Time’. The stories of our students reflect the impact of our interventions. Their stories of change inspire us to work tirelessly towards our goals and encourage us to be focused and stay true to our efforts.

ALSO READ-