Faizal And Shabana Foundation Launches Education Reform Pilot

• Faizal & Shabana Foundation inaugurates The DREAM School Project at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kothibagh, Srinagar, replicating Kerala’s award-winning Nadakkavu Model of public school transformation.
• Hon’ble Lt. Governor Shri Manoj Sinha lauds the initiative as a milestone in reimagining government education through innovation, design, and inclusive development aligned with NEP 2020.
• The Kothibagh DREAM School, equipped with digital classrooms and modern infrastructure, marks the Foundation’s first national rollout, symbolizing scalable, policy-aligned education reform across India.

The Faizal & Shabana Foundation (FSF), started by entrepreneur and education reformer Mr. Faizal E. Kottikollon and Mrs. Shabana Faizal, commissioned The DREAM School Project a newly constructed middle school block at Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kothibagh, Srinagar. The ceremony, attended by Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha, is the first national replication of Kerala's award-winning Nadakkavu Model of public school renewal in keeping with India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The Kothibagh project is the Faizal & Shabana Foundation's inaugural national scaling up of its award-winning Nadakkavu School Transformation Framework that was originally conceived and tested in Kozhikode, Kerala. The success of this model prompted an extension of similar practices to approximately 1,000 government schools in Kerala under the PRISM (Promoting Regional Schools to International Standards through Multiple Interventions) initiative. The recently opened school in Srinagar showcases how strategic design, infrastructure innovation, and education partnerships can provide scalable, equitable, and policy-aligned solutions for India's public education system.

Hon'ble Lt. Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha, remarked, "I have my deep appreciation for Mr. Faizal, Mrs. Shabana, and the Faizal & Shabana Foundation for their outstanding dedication to changing the face of public education in Jammu & Kashmir. This project is an example of how visionary leadership, kindness, and cooperation can change the direction of government schooling.". The project not only reinvigorated the teaching environment in Kothibagh but also ignited new hope in students, teachers, and the community at large. It is an inspiring example of how design, innovation, and compassion can bring education to international standards.

"In the last five years, I have been very proud to note that our girls have consistently outshone others in all universities, schools, and colleges winning almost 75% of all the gold medals during university convocations". Currently, over 1,100 Jammu & Kashmir startups are registered with the Ministry of Commerce, and over one-third of them are managed by women entrepreneurs. I am assured that this achievement will raise new standards for school education, innovation, technology integration, and ongoing teacher development.

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The Kothibagh DREAM School has digitally equipped classrooms, improved sanitation, accessibility infrastructure, and contemporary design in harmony with local architectural heritage. It also incorporates ongoing teacher training and assessment systems for learning, promoting long-term sustainability and measurable impact.

Looking back on the project's impact, KEF Holdings Founder & Chairman and Faizal & Shabana Foundation Co-Founder Mr. Faizal E. Kottikollon stated, "Today is a historic milestone in our quest to re-imagine public education in India. What has started as a solo effort in Kerala's Nadakkavu School has today emerged as a countrywide movement one which opens a new chapter here in Jammu & Kashmir". Our vision is straightforward: every child, regardless of background, should have access to world-class learning in a culture of dignity, design, and empathy. Success of Kerala's government schools demonstrates that change is feasible when purpose and partnership converge. With the constant encouragement of the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor and citizens of Jammu & Kashmir, we are committed to carry this journey ahead and see that each child's potential is India's greatest strength.

The launch was graced by Indian and UAE dignitaries and senior officials, such as R N Sharma, Secretary, School Education Department, J&K; Dr. Aman Puri, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs; Ambassador Sunjay Sudhir, former Indian Ambassador to UAE; Maj. Gen. Sharafuddin Sharaf (Retd.), Vice-Chairman, UIBC-UC; and Mr. Akram Thumbay Moideen, Thumbay Group, UAE.

On the margins of the event, the UAE–India Business Council (UAE Chapter) officially unveiled a research paper, 'Bridging Horizons: UAE–India Partnership and the Future of Education-led Development'. The paper examines the prospect of UAE–India cooperation through philanthropy, CSR, and knowledge partnerships to drive education-led development in, for example, Jammu & Kashmir.

Faizal & Shabana Foundation keeps emphasizing scalable, policy-relevant models of school change integrating design, digital technologies, teacher development, and partnerships in governance to bolster national education agendas for enhanced learning results, gender equality, and inclusive lifelong learning.