Saraswati Seva Foundation (SSF), a not-for-profit and Canadian firm SNC-Lavalin’s Indian arm have said they’ve joined hands to start innovative programmes in the fields of education and livelihood for the under-privileged students and the youth.
Making the announcement in Chikkaballapur, about 60km from Bengaluru recently, the teams said they had “innovative methods of imparting quality STEM-C learning to students in class 6 to 12, engineering coaching for the class 11th girls and employment-oriented training for the graduate youths.”
“In order to impart the best quality training, SSF has partnered with SNC-Lavalin, IIT Delhi (NSS Group), IET (Institution of Engineering & Technology), and is working closely with Agastya Foundation,” SSF said in a statement.
Bharat Gala, senior vice-president, SNC-Lavalin, India, said: “We’re proud to partner with SSF to implement these programmes for students in rural Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh. As an organisation, we are committed to fostering innovation — both within our teams and the communities we serve and expanding opportunities by offering a tech-savvy, knowledge-based and digital learning atmosphere that equips, inspires and empowers our students to pursue their passion.”
SSF added that it has — In line with the Centre’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and recommendations of New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 — undertaken the mission of taking quality learning and training to the under-resourced in the villages and small towns.
“These programmes are currently running in Gudibande, Bagepalli (Chikballapur district, Karnataka), Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) and other locations. Across most of SSF’s programmes, students are supported with counseling and life skills, such as communications and interpersonal skills. Saraswati Seva Foundation is working towards a Student Readiness Scorecard model which helps them understand and address the learning gaps,” SSF added.
Vivek Singh, president, SSF said the Foundation is committed to building a quality learning network in one district of each state to instil scientific vision and tune students’ aspirations to local needs using technology.
“SSF is using innovative methods to help students see the learning and outcome lifecycle by training them in science application, using Arduino for irrigation automation, building robotic surveillance kit, having IIT volunteers to counsel the engineering aspirants how to mentally model their preparations to make their pathway to reputed engineering institutes, and lining up communication sessions with the students of similar age in countries such as the United Kingdom,” he added.
Somnath Bhagavatula, HR Director, India & Asia Pacific, SNC-Lavalin said that technology can play a disruptor (fundamental) role in improving and enhancing quality education.
“…And with volunteers joining hands as mentors from renowned institutions such as IITs, I am sure the program will make the learning even more receptive for students from rural communities who want to pursue STEM,” he added.