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Education is vital for Pakistan to become ‘Asian Tiger’, says Walid Mushtaq

IslamabadThe Roots International Schools (RIS) is the second generation of educational system that has been the cradle of creativity and innovation and been invoking our student’s imagination since its inception. The seed was sown by the Roots School System founder Ms Riffat Mushtaq and then it has been carried forward

By Afshan S. Khan
May 22, 2015
Islamabad
The Roots International Schools (RIS) is the second generation of educational system that has been the cradle of creativity and innovation and been invoking our student’s imagination since its inception. The seed was sown by the Roots School System founder Ms Riffat Mushtaq and then it has been carried forward by along with the same moral values, ethics conceived by her. RIS Metropolitan Schools are labelled and founded by her son Walid Mushtaq, who himself is a celebrated national educational icon and counsellor to help scale education.
‘The News’ met Roots International School CEO Walid Mushtaq here on Wednesday to share his mission, vision and philosophy behind RIS.
Walid said that at the core of our education philosophy is the goal to develop students with strong problem-solving and analytical abilities and to equip them with the skills that they need to succeed in their higher education and future careers. Our graduates are independent thinkers with the ability to create and innovate. We are focused towards responding to the need of Pakistan to make the critical transition to a knowledge based society by providing an opportunity for quality education and tapping the potential excellence in the young generation today. We as a student counsellor take pride in our ability to ignite something within our students that drives them to excel. Roots with its international collaborations play a large part in empowering the students with the 21st century tools conducive for the global environment.
We have about 120 to 150 international linkages that not only encompasses academic but sport, social, philosophical approach and ‘learning beyond the classroom’ for our students.
Talking about the Teacher’s Training Programme Walid said that we have been the largest partners of Cambridge in Pakistan. We strongly believe that teachers play an integral part in child’s mental development right from their early ages till they grow up. We have trained almost 10,000 teachers through indigenous certification courses that includes teachers, housewives and anyone who wants to acquire the certificate. Another progressive programme we have started for the capacity building is Continued Professional Development that includes 10 to 12 certification programmes.
Here at RIS, our students are nurtured in all aspects of their personality. Students are provided numerous exciting opportunities to display their abilities and skills and to think aesthetically, analytically and creatively. We are transforming dreams into reality when Roots students break world records and scores top position in all national and international examinations; attain perfect scores in SAT-II 2400/2400, receive admission offering the top national and international universities with full scholarship in disciplines of physics, social sciences, arts, technology and engineering programmes. We provide pathways to our students to realise their dreams through counselling seminars and provide support every step of the way to realise their career dreams.
Talking about higher studies at Roots, Walid Mushtaq said that we have Roots College International flagship G-8 campus that is offering the only gold certified ACCA College in Rawalpindi/Islamabad. The campus is running joint masters programme with University of London, besides this, there are 17 to 18 programmes that are being offered in the university.
Walid said that Roots entered into agreements with Microsoft, TiE, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce, Confucius Centre to name a few. Roots academic and management team was the recipient of 15 Intel education awards. Our teachers and management were invited by Microsoft partners in learning programme to forums in Washington DC, Jordon and Middle East which is a testament to our commitment to promote 21st century learning. We promote global culture in our schools and in recognition of this 11 of our schools have been partnered with UK schools in Global School Partnership programme. This year alone our leadership was the recipient of Global CEO Excellence awards in 4 categories including innovation in education and Director of the year. We believe and strive to groom our students intellectually and make them morally strong, empathetic and effective global citizens.
We prepare our student to be professional, skilled individuals fitted for the modern world and committed to the communities in which they live and work.
Walid Mushtaq said that The International Baccalaureate (IB) has been introduced in Roots International Schools. The four programmes offered by IB is for students aged 3 to 19 help develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalising world. After a thorough scrutiny and evaluation system, we have been awarded this system to implement in our schools. The programme is more practical making the students independent thinkers. This programme has been introduced now in Wallington Campus, H-8, but will be introduced in other RIS very soon. Keeping in mind the changing paradigm of education today, RIS has customized an ICT curriculum in collaboration with Intel Education Pakistan. Roots International Schools Department of Information Communication Technology is committed to ensure that our student are provided with excellent education that encourages integrated virtual teaching and learning thus promoting ICT as a common denominator to bridge digital divide.
Talking about the new programmes started in RIS, Walid Mushtaq said that Roots International Schools has also introduced a theme of nanotechnology educational program for Junior and Lower Secondary tier. “Nanotechnology is an emerging interdisciplinary field of science that uses knowledge at the Nano scale which occurs at the scale of atoms and molecules.
Since nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary field, it can be incorporated in physical science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, environmental sciences and engineering. Roots Eco-Literacy Initiative Roots has also initiated its eco literacy program that will enlighten the young brimming minds.
We need more brains and professionals to add to the value of our social paradigm. We have collaborated with Islamabad/Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and our students give presentations to the diplomatic community and bridge the gap between chamber and diplomats.
Talking about the initiative taken by ‘The Jang Group’ to bring all the colleges and universities under one roof, Walid Mushtaq said that it a step in the right direction. “There is a strong need to channelize the destiny of our youth and giving them the right direction because they constitute more than 62% of our population. There is a strong need that for public -private partnership in education so that our education system is revolutionized and we truly become the Asian tigers boosting our economy in multi-fold,” he said.
Globally recognized and acclaimed social entrepreneur, Pakistan’s youngest education reforms specialist, a powerful and influential icon for the youth who has the vision to elevate the educational standards in Pakistan, an entrepreneur with a passion to develop innovative socially evolving enterprises with global impact, and most importantly a patriot dedicated to the betterment of our society through community mobilization, women empowerment and youth engagement. Walid Mushtaq, the CEO of Roots International Schools has been delivering his services to the country for over 20 years, taking the reins of an international standard organization at an early age, Walid has delivered success unparalleled.
Mr Walid’s contributions are not just limited to the education sector, through Roots Academy for Intellectual and Professional Development (RAPID) and For Children Community Initiative (4CCI), he has been providing trainings related to nutrition hygiene and ethics education, gender equality, vocational trainings and disaster management across the country.
Having incomparable process reengineering acumen, and passion for inspiring change, Mr Walid has spearheaded initiatives regarding youth enablement, women empowerment and social uplift. Over the years he has launched various entrepreneurship incubation centres, especially focusing on social entrepreneurs and women entrepreneurs from backward areas encouraging and enabling them to present their creative ideas at national and international fora.
Mr Walid plays an instrumental role in bringing together political and business influencers in the country. His expertise on education and social initiatives are often sought by various international organizations, ambassadors as well as politicians. He is The Vice President of the Diplomat Business Club and in that capacity Mr Walid has been playing an influential role in business and political communities, his counselling and youth inspiring initiatives have earned him international recognition and awards by top ranking universities of the world such as Cambridge university, Bilgi university Turkey, Richmond university UK, and universities like Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Harvard have endorsed Mr. Mushtaq’s career Counselling skills and set his recommendation letters as the ultimate benchmark for global career counselling standards, Walid Mushtaq has bagged over the last 3 years young entrepreneur awards, educationist of the year award and most inspiring youth leader awards of the from the most prestigious federation of chamber of commerce of Pakistan and Rawalpindi chamber of commerce, he has been endorsed by leading publication of Pakistan as too 100 influence makers of the country.