Jaipur: A ten-day residential workshop for madrasa teachers from across the country here has sharpened their skills in English language and improved their leadership qualities while bringing out the best of their abilities in interpersonal skills, behaviour and communication. The workshop going on at Hotel Indiana Pride here since April 2 has provided a unique exposure to the group of 25 teachers selected through a rigorous test.
The workshop, which is the first of its kind organized in Rajasthan, will conclude here tomorrow with a valedictory function. The Rajasthan Education Minister, Mr. Braj Kishore Sharma, will be the chief guest at the function. The event in the city has highlighted the significance of English for the students of religious seminaries and enabled the participants to develop skills among pupils for career growth through the modern language and subjects.
It formed part of the professional development programme on teaching English language skills for madrasa teachers, which is being supported by the Regional English Language Office (RELO), U.S. Embassy, New Delhi. The Marwar Muslim Education and Welfare Society, Jodhpur, and Taraqqi-I Foundation, New Delhi, have jointly organized the workshop here.
Teachers selected from various states are participating in the workshop. They are from Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Hyderabad, Maharashtra, Chennai and Kolkata and also include a few from nearby Tonk, Jodhpur and Mewat. They are teaching madrasa students, Ulemas and working children in various capacities.
The scope and quality of content and trainers at the workshop is unique and inimitable and can only be matched by the sincere participation and diversity of candidates, especially the women teachers dedicated to the cause of modernization of madrasa education. An eclectic group of senior and high-quality trainers have adopted participatory and experiential learning approaches for training the participants.
Ms. Connie Greenleaf, Senior Fellow, RELO, is the main resource person in the workshop who has trained the teachers and sharpened their skills in English. Ms. Greenleaf covered the subjects of empathy, motivation, goal-setting, fluency and fun with games in her training module for teachers and was always ready to clarify their doubts and provide useful tips.
Ms. Greenleaf has been involved in TESOL as a teacher, curriculum developer, district coordinator, professional development presenter, and teacher trainer for the last 37 years at the primary, secondary, and university level. She has led professional development for teachers in the U.S.A., and as an English Language Specialist for the Department of State in Thailand, Turkey and Mexico.
The other expert invited to the workshop is Dr. Raashid Nehal, who is an Associate Professor at the Department of English, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. As part of the AMU Access team, he is doing a RELO project on ‘Kindle Mobile Learning initiative’ for access centres at Kolkatta, Bhubneshwar, Kochi and Aligarh managed by the UGC Academic Staff College of the AMU.
The Taraqqi-I Foundation’s Founder Director, Mr. Amir Abidi, said the methodology of teaching was aimed at evolving an atmosphere conducive to understanding the complexity of English language through a simple approach which could also be explained to madrasa students and other target groups. This methodology will also help in educational planning in madrasas where teachers’ training must be taken up as the core of education.
The workshop has succeeded in enhancing the understanding of current approaches to a learner-centred classroom and language improvement techniques so as to make the teaching of English more effective. The trainees, who have also benefited from the life skills sessions at the workshop, will be able to guide and support their fellow teachers and act as a great educational resource for their madrasas.
The Taraqqi-I Foundation, based in New Delhi, is presently running a Taraqqi Project aimed at developing education of economically disadvantaged children and youth of the minority-concentrated districts and wards, strengthening the education delivery systems, developing vocational skills and fostering inter-community synergy and trust.
The trainees included at least four teachers who have not only emerged as role models in their immediate surroundings and local communities, but have also inspired the madrasa stakeholders all over the country through their unique contributions. These teachers are:
Ms. Khairunnisa (Hyderabad):
Ms. Khairunnissa from Hyderabad has been teaching English in MESCO madrasa for several years. She had an accident at an early age and has only one hand yet that has never deterred her from acquiring skills and knowledge so as to help her students learn better. A vivacious and wise young lady, one takes some time to realize that she has only one hand. She was the first amongst the female participants to volunteer for climbing the rock and she stood fourth amongst all the participants. Her effort motivated many other participants to also come forward and climb the rock.
Maulana Zakariya (Chennai):
Maulana Zakariya from Chennai is one of the most accomplished English teachers as well as a team leader of the group. His energy and calm approach has been much appreciated by his peers in many of the group tasks they are required to do as a team. It is inspirational to have an Aalim who comes with decades of wisdom acquired through traditional system of madrasa learning to be so open and adaptive to the new pedagogical techniques being thought in the workshop. In times when religious leaders are perceived to be rigid, he is a perfect example of a community/religious leader who represents the balanced and an inclusive approach to learning.
Ms. Raafiya (Tonk):
Ms. Raafiya is a student teacher from a noble family of Tonk. Being excellent in her studies and fairly proficient in English, she has many career options open for her, yet she cherishes her role as a teacher because she wants to care for and uplift the poor children through education. Her dedication to learning is evident from her efforts in preparing and appearing for her exams while attending the residential teachers’ training programme.
Maulana Saqib (Uttar Pradesh):
Maulana Saqib has the pedigree of the finest madrasa education being from Uttar Pradesh and having studied at some of the best madrasas there. His passion for acquiring further knowledge made him do a Bachelors degree from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and a Masters degree from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. He is doing a pioneering work in teaching English communication to the Ulemas from the most renowned madrasas. A rare combination of serious and jovial approach as appropriate to the moment, he has adapted many interactive and fun learning activities acquired in such workshops in teaching his senior students as well.
Kalyan Singh Kothari