New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) Shiv Nadar, one of India's better known information technology entrepreneurs and noted philanthropist, Wednesday announced that his foundation will run 25 schools in India by 2020, starting with two on the outskirts of the national capital.
"I have always believed that good education is a gift that has the power to transform and drive change that lasts beyond the lifetime of an individual," Nadar told a press conference here announcing his foundation's new initiative.
"The Shiv Nadar Foundation has been impacting lives in the field of education for over 15 years through its various initiatives. At the Shiv Nadar School, our vision is to create lifelong learners who would grow into contributing citizens of tomorrow."
The founder and chairman of the HCL group said the schools, the first of which will be launched in Delhi's suburban Gurgaon in Haryana and Noida in Uttar Pradesh, will have a strong focus on music, arts, crafts as well, and theatre will complement the focus on academic excellence.
Nadar has pledged to give away 10 percent of his wealth towards philanthropic causes.
Selection, training, certification and professional and personal growth of teachers will receive continued attention at the Shiv Nadar School, said those associated with the foundation.
The school chain is being built on 5 to 6 acre campus each and will have a football and cricket ground, basketball and squash courts, indoor multipurpose hall for sports and drama, dining cafeteria for lunch, technology equipped classrooms and campus.
A strong back-end organisation with systems and processes would support continuous faculty development and every faculty at the school will undergo mandatory 80-100 hours of training.
Admissions for the 2012-13 academic sessions will commence in September 2011.