16 Jul. 24: At first glance, seeing 8-year-old Mohammed Ashfaque and 7-year-old Mariam Adil assembling robotic cars and participating in races might make one think they are students of a top-notch city school. However, these young tech enthusiasts study at Ijma International Model School, a modest institution located in the lanes of Topsia, a Muslim-majority area in Kolkata.
Despite its size and location, Ijma International Model School has made it routine for its students to interact with international experts and learn cutting-edge technology from an early age.
The students, fluent in English, were seen attentively listening to the administrators during a recent weekend robotics workshop.
“As you have learned to assemble robotic cars and understand their engineering, we will also introduce you to driverless cars and WiFi-enabled cars,” said Nafis Ahmed Khan, addressing the excited children.
“The workshop aims to give them insights into robotic cars, their connections, and battery configurations to enhance their understanding of controlled vehicles,” he added.
The two-hour-long robotics workshop is just one part of the school’s curriculum, which follows the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) standards. The students also learn mathematics, science, computers, Arabic, and Deeniyat. Each classroom is equipped with air conditioners and a large smart screen. The school frequently hosts workshops on the latest technologies and invites experts from various fields to engage with the students.
Visits from Renowned Experts
Over the past two years, numerous experts have visited the school, including Professor Ewaz Al-Jum’aa Al-Laila from King Saud University, Riyadh; Mufti Obaidulla Asadi, Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee, Islami Fiqh Academy; Muhammad Mushtaque Nadwi, Judge in Doha, Qatar; Maulana Jaafar Hasani Nadwi, Deputy General Secretary, Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow; Wing Commander (Retd) Shamim Akhtar; NUJS Dean Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan; Advocate Khurshid Alam; Mamoon Akhtar, Founder of the Samaritan Group; and many others.
“Our students can compete with those from any other school. We are preparing them to stay ahead in every aspect. The future belongs to Artificial Intelligence (AI), and these kids will be well-versed with the latest technology and capable of contributing something new to mankind,” said Dr. Sarfaraz Adil, the school’s director. He also revealed plans to establish a robotics lab at the school.
Ijma Charitable Trust’s Role
Established in 2023, Ijma International Model School offers classes from Nursery to 3rd grade and has around 100 students. Run by the Ijma Charitable Trust, the school provides scholarships to 20% of its students, with 10% receiving half-freeships and another 10% receiving full freeships. “We plan to expand to senior secondary education and have already acquired land for this purpose,” added Dr. Sarfaraz.
A Message for Parents
Mariam Adil, the daughter of the school’s director, studies at the school, sending a strong message to parents about the quality and commitment to education at Ijma International. This move ensures parents that the education imparted here is uncompromised and of high standard.
Ijma International Model School continues to break barriers and set new standards in education, nurturing the next generation of tech-savvy leaders from Kolkata’s Muslim community.
