The Faizal & Shabana Foundation (FSF) has inaugurated a new Middle School block at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kothibagh, Srinagar, marking a major step in extending Kerala’s acclaimed Nadakkavu Model of public education reform to Jammu & Kashmir.

The inauguration, held in the presence of the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha, celebrated the Foundation’s vision of creating equitable and inspiring learning environments for all children. Shri Sinha commended the initiative as a “milestone in advancing inclusive and quality education” in the Union Territory.

The event saw participation from senior officials and dignitaries from India and the UAE, including R N Sharma, principal secretary, School Education Department, J&K; Dr Aman Puri, joint secretary, Ministry of External Affairs; Amb Sunjay Sudhir, former IFS; Maj Gen Sharafuddin Sharaf (Retd.), vice-chairman, UIBC–UC; and Dr G N Itoo, director general, School Education Kashmir, alongside representatives from the UAE India Business Council (UIBC–UC).

The new DREAM School block was inspired by Mr Faizal E. Kottikollon’s 2023 visit to Srinagar, during which he pledged to transform the school under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model. The facility features modern classrooms, Robotics and STEM labs, and sustainable infrastructure designed to enhance both learning outcomes and teacher capability.

Speaking at the event, Mr Faizal E. Kottikollon, founder and chairman of KEF Holdings and co-founder of FSF, said:
“Today marks a historic milestone in our mission to reimagine public education in India. What began in Kerala’s Nadakkavu School has now become a nationwide movement. Every child deserves access to world-class education in an environment of dignity, design, and empathy.”

The Nadakkavu Model—first implemented in Kozhikode under the PRISM framework (Promoting Regional Schools to International Standards through Multiple Interventions)—has already inspired over 977 schools in Kerala and catalysed a state-wide government scale-up. Its expansion to Jammu & Kashmir represents a key step towards building a unified, high-quality national public education system.

As part of the ceremony, the UAE–India Business Council (UAE Chapter) released a research paper titled “Bridging Horizons: UAE–India Partnership and the Future of Education-led Development”, highlighting the potential of bilateral collaboration in advancing education and skills development in India.

Through its work in partnership with governments and communities, the Faizal & Shabana Foundation continues to champion design-driven education reform, teacher empowerment, and digital literacy—uniting regions and generations under a shared vision of world-class public schooling for every child.

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