CII's school cluster programme launched
B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore Kendra, at the inauguration of the CII School Cluster programme in the city.The Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) initiative to enhance the quality of education at the school-level has reached Coimbatore. The school cluster programme of the CII was recently launched in the city.By bringing together schools that belong to the same board, have similar ideology, and are driven by a common philosophy, the concept of quality management can be taken to the schools easily, the CII believes.It therefore handholds schools to come together and through a process of sharing ideas aims to improve all aspects of education – the ways of imparting knowledge, involvement of the teachers, students and parents in the activities of the school and documentation.One cluster has 10 private schools. The cluster formed in Coimbatore is the sixth in the country. Close interaction with one another helps the schools use ‘quality tools’ for bringing changes scientifically and systematically, said C.N.Ashok, Vice Chairman of CII, Coimbatore Zone. It also facilitated collective learning and sharing of best practices among schools, he added. “The Small and Medium Enterprises cluster programme gave a definite structure to the industrial operations in the city. Similarly, the school programme will ensure continuous development in education,” Mr.Ashok said.
Through this programme, schools would also get an opportunity to assess themselves and identify their strengths and areas that needed to be worked upon.The CII would provide a common set of inputs through training and counselling to the cluster. Resource people from the CII’s centre for excellence in Bangalore would provide the technical support. All the schools in the cluster would be trained to adopt a common framework for excellence in education.Cluster schools would have to meet once a month to share their experiences among themselves. For all the training programmes, CII would provide the course and stationery materials to the participants.
Speaking at the inaugural of the programme, Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, Chairman of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore Kendra, said that the present education system should concentrate on preserving the culture of the nation. It should understand the core competencies of a community and evolve a system that was not just career-oriented but one that emphasises on spirituality and the welfare of society.Schools that are interested in being part of the cluster programme can contact CII at 2201488.
