2. Banyan
Delivering quality education through technology
Objective
To create a sustainable educational model through technology where teacher
involvement is minimised and values of self reliance and collaboration are
instilled for the provision of quality education at a low cost in rural areas.
Team
Banyan
The venture is called Banyan. Not like a vest – like the tree. A banyan tree starts
off as a single tree, and ends up covering large areas due to its ability to prop
aerial roots that become stems for other trees. A single tree can look like a
forest. It is an apt metaphor for the collaborative system where an education
system develops through the interconnection of various players.
The project was founded by friends who had the opportunity to attend
Aitchison College. Their passion has led them to adopt a path where similar high
quality education provisions are made available to all Pakistanis.
Hammad Malik, Ali Azhar, Oosman Bashir and Shayan Ahmed all graduated from
leading universities and are entrepreneurs with management experience in the
banking, insurance and engineering sectors.
We believe learning is fun and are committed to improving both the
educational experience and its outcome for children everywhere.
4. Banyan
Delivering quality education through technology
The Context
• Pakistan ranks 146th out of 187 countries in the Human Development Index
• Massive youth bulge with 185 m people. 39% of them are under the age of 15
• 50% of children between 7 to 16 years of age from the poorest households are considered
Out-Of-School Children
• Female literacy (33%) and enrollment rates (48%) particularly low in rural areas
• Provision of education in Pakistan reliant on historically low and static Government budgets
Source: Access to Finance for Low Cost Private Schools in Pakistan, Ilm Ideas, 2014
5. Banyan
Delivering quality education through technology
Location:
Vehgal Road, Sharki Abaadi, Mustafabad Kasur Districtt
Model of education:
Premises and Term start:
• We rented a small property, and converted the
resident cowshed into a classroom designed to
facilitate activities geared towards collaboration
• The first class took place in March, 2015
• Banyan believes in employing an evolving system which currently resembles the blended
learning model
• 5 – 7 year old children are divided into three groups: Playgroup, Nursery and Grade 1
• The curriculum was designed based on interviews conducted with leading early
childhood education institutions based in Lahore
• Students at Banyan use the same Oxford textbooks used in high-end schools of Lahore
• A weekly activity day takes place to reinforce learning through collaborative activities and
exposure to games based learning, e-learning and problems based exercises.
• Two teachers from the nearby village conduct classes whilst a third teacher coordinates
the activity day
The Classroom and Teaching method
6. Banyan
Delivering quality education through technology
• The December test results were very instructive and inspirational. The students have
been able to tackle exercises a child in urban schools in Lahore of a similar age has to,
without the support system and instructive home environment available to children in
urban Lahore
• Banyan intends to increase its class strength from 32 students to 60 students from
March, 2016
• In extending its branches, Banyan continues to abide by its guiding principles to reduce
its variable costs through the use of technology and collaboration.
Future Aspirations
Social Media
• www.twitter.com/banyaned www.facebook.com/banyaneducation
7. Banyan
Delivering quality education through technology
How you can contribute
Collaborate
• Accompany us on our activity days and join the children in
their lesson reinforcing activities
• Lend us your time and creativity to improve the educational
experience further
• Help improve the curriculum
• Give us your valued feedback, especially if you have
experience in early childhood education or e-learning. We
would love to hear from you.
Funding
• Sponsor a child – PKR 1,500 per month
• Sponsor a teacher – PKR 15,000 per month
• Sponsor a class – PKR 25,000 per month
For details on how this money is being spent, contact us for expenses forecasts
Resources
• Any contribution of story books, educational games, stationery,
classroom decorations etc. that could be useful in a classroom
setting are encouraged.
8. Contact:
Ali Azhar
ali.azhar@banyan.org.pk
Ph: +923004299832
Hammad Malik
hammad.malik@banyan.org.pk
Ph: +923028744449
Address: 65-A, Ferozepur Road, Samnabad
Link Road, Lahore, Pakistan
www.twitter.com/banyaned www.facebook.com/banyaneducation
Oosman Bashir
oosman@banyan.org.pk
Ph: +923334410609 / +971505541702
