Superhands April 2024 News
Superhands News April 2024
Lessons at AIS Dina
We hope everyone had a good Eid ul Fitr. Most of our students fast voluntarily as the age of fasting starts with adulthood. Traditionally children follow family elders and they don’t want to miss out on ‘Iftars’, the fast opening dinner parties in every household.
An Important Milestone
March and April are usually the time for school functions, when we celebrate school results and promotion to higher classes. This year we have more to celebrate and feel proud of. The first children we enrolled when in nursery and prep have now sat their 9th and 10th class board exams. Our two high schools in Dina and Islamgarh have been very busy preparing these students for board exams for Punjab and Azad Kashmir.
Not long ago matric (10th class) exams used to be the highest exams for poor families as they could not afford college or university education. To be a matriculate allowed you to enter into society’s upper circle because you could read and write and get a clerical job, join the army or police or be an accounts clerk in a business. It has always been our goal to educate children of poor families above this perceived ceiling.
A Route Out of Poverty
Assembly at AIS Islamgarh
Superhands with the help of our staunch supporters is determined to provide professional education to eradicate poverty from the poor masses. When we ask our students what they would like to be when they leave school, their answer is often; doctor, pilot, police officer, teacher etc. Superhands intends to help these students fulfil their ambitions.
At present, of our five schools, two are high schools (Dina and Islamgarh), two are middle schools (Mian Muhhamad Town and Khari Sharif) and one is a primary school (Jatlan). All schools will in time be brought up to high school level as the students move up through the classes.
Rather than setting up our own colleges we have decided to grant scholarships to our students completing high school, so that they can attend private colleges. The two universities in Mirpur are very interested in talented students and are willing to offer scholarships to high achievers, which at one time was only a dream of the rich.
Start of the New School Year
From 1st April this year, like every year, each school took 25 new students, totalling 125 newcomers to be looked after. We will also be elevating the same number of students each year to higher classes by the grace of God and the help of our supporters.
Our schools are regularly visited by UK visitors and the feedback is highly encouraging. Our head trustee Taj Mirza recently visited all five schools with his wife and was very happy with the work of the teachers. He found that every penny was well spent. We welcome you all when you next visit Pakistan to have a day trip to our schools. We welcome feedback and suggestions. Don’t forget that June and July are the hottest months in Pakistan and the schools are closed for summer vacations!