Government School Teacher from Kangroosa Rafiabad selected for Fulbright Teaching Excellence Programme 2024-25
In a significant development, a government school teacher from Kangroosa Rafiabad has been selected for Fulbright Teaching Excellence Program 2024-25 in the United States.
Tajamul Naseem Lone, a government school teacher presently posted at Dangiwacha higher secondary school is among 187 ‘outstanding’ teachers who have been selected for the program.
As per the official communication received from the United States Department of State Bureau of educational and cultural affairs, Washington DC, around 3200 applications were received from international educators from over 65 countries across the world.
“And you are among the 187 outstanding teacher leaders to be selected as finalists,” reads the official communication signed by Branch Chief Teacher Exchange branch, Jennifer Gibson.
“The mission of the Fulbright Program is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries,” it reads
The Fulbright Program awards more than 5,000 competitive, merit-based grants annually to teachers, university students, scholars, artists, scientists, and professionals from across the United States and in 160 countries who exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
“The U.S. Congress provides funding to the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program,” it reads.
As per the official communication, the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program brings international secondary-level educators to the United States for a six-week professional learning opportunity at a host university. “Participants attend academic seminars at a host university that focus on topics such as new teaching methodologies, student-centered learning, instructional technology, and content-based instruction,” it reads
Under the program, the participants complete a minimum of 40 hours in a field experience with a U.S. partner educator of their same or a similar discipline in a local secondary school.
The 2024 — 2025 Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program will also include specialized programming in gender in education, media literacy, and environmental education.
Meanwhile, as per the official communication issued by Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, the presidentially appointed 12-member Board is responsible for supervising the Fulbright Program worldwide and approving the selection of all Fulbright recipients. “Your grant is a reflection of your leadership and contributions to society and is made possible through funds appropriated annually by the U.S. Congress and, in many cases, by contributions from partner countries and private parties,” reads an official communication addressed to Tajamul Naseem Lone.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Tajamul credited his achievement to the support of the staff at Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS) Dangiwacha and the mentorship of Rameez Sudan, a Fulbright alumnus, who guided him.“This year, only seven teachers from across India were selected for the prestigious programme,” he said.
Lone completed his primary and secondary education in his local area before pursuing a Bachelor of Science from the University of Kashmir.In 2008, he relocated to Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, to pursue a Master’s degree in Zoology at Barkatullah University.
According to Lone, his experiences include teaching in the Department of School Education in Kashmir since 2015. He has also worked as an ALOHA administrator and course instructor for five years, during which he conducted evaluations to measure student performance and progress.
“I have guided areas requiring improvement and worked collaboratively with teachers, administrators, and parents to help students achieve their learning objectives,” he said.
