According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, the tech company has long felt that education is the greatest equalizer and would continue to grow its educational and skill-building projects in India to bring more disadvantaged children into contact with society.
Cook visited the Sitaram Mill Complex municipal school in Mumbai’s Lower Parel neighborhood, where Apple has installed iPads and Apple TVs in the classrooms, while making his seventh trip back to India to open the country’s first Apple-branded retail location.
The Akanksha Foundation, a nonprofit organization, employs teachers and other employees to administer the BMC school in English. There are 470 students enrolled at the moment, 55 graduates, and up to 40 students in each class.
From the company’s inception, education has been a top priority. It is deeply rooted in our Genetics. Since we can see our goods in action in a classroom setting, programs like these make my heart sing, said Cook to IANS.
The Akanksha Foundation now manages 26 junior kindergarten through grade 10 schools in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur’s economically depressed neighborhoods.
In order to guarantee fairness, students are chosen by lottery, and in addition to the fundamental academic courses, Akanksha puts a high priority on socio-emotional and ethical learning.
Since 2015, Apple has supported their work. Along with providing financial assistance, the business also assisted them in integrating Apple TV and iPad into their lessons, and some of its instructors have earned the title of Apple Professional Learning Expert.
“It’s obvious how these kids’ learning cycles are quickening, and the engagement they bring is fantastic. To assist more children use our technology, we would extend similar programs in India, Cook said with enthusiasm as local Mumbai trains continued to pass by. “This education initiative is something that truly makes me pleased,” Cook said.
The Akanksha Foundation has employed Mandira Purohit, the school’s head, for 17 years.
She claims that iPads are naturally assisting children in the development of their creative and reading abilities, and that Cook’s initial visit to the school really boosted the confidence of both the students and the whole teaching team.
iPads have transformed how education is delivered in this place. As students are working in groups or cooperating on different projects, we share a lot of software knowledge. Cook’s responses to the children when he visited their classes were also very motivating for all of us, she said, according to IANS.
Cook also got to know Nirjala, a school alumna from a big family with six kids who was financially severely affected by the epidemic.
After two years, Nirjala stunned her professors by moving up to the top 10% of her class. She was chosen to serve as her class’s alumni ambassador after she graduated two years ago, connecting and organizing engagement activities for her classmates.
During a charity event in New York that Bollywood star Boman Irani sponsored, she spoke on behalf of Akanksha.
With the iPad and Apple TV in the classroom, learning became more simpler for us than it was with books. We entered a new universe thanks to iPad animation programs like Book Maker, iMovie, and a plethora of others, said Nirjala to Cook.
Chitra Pandit, Director of Communications and Development, claims that they are lucky to have had this relationship with Apple running strong since 2015.
“It has recently become stronger and stronger. coming year. We’re going to equip all 26 of our schools with iPads, and we’re excited to see all of our students study in a more efficient manner so they can achieve at greater levels than students from anyplace else, Pandit told IANS.
Cook found it encouraging to visit the municipal school in Sitaram Mill Compound, and the business plans to extend such programs to additional schools and young people around the nation.
