Srinagar, Oct 27: The Faizal & Shabana Foundation (FSF), the philanthropic arm co-founded by entrepreneur and education reformer Faizal E. Kottikollon and Shabana Faizal, constructed the middle school block at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Kothibagh, Srinagar with state-of-the-art facilities such as Robotics and STEM Lab, ACs for all the rooms and a dedicated lunchroom with separate kitchen and a storeroom.

For Jammu and Kashmir, the project holds added significance as a step toward building the educational infrastructure, empowering the youth, and ensuring social inclusion.
The project has not only revitalized the learning environment at Kothibagh but has also sparked new hope among students, teachers, and the wider community. It stands as a shining example of how design, innovation, and empathy can elevate education to global standards.
The project, under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model, marks the Foundation’s expansion of its celebrated Nadakkavu Model from Kerala to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Nadakkavu Model is a movement in public education reform rooted in design, innovation, and empathy. The Nadakkavu transformation in Kozhikode, where a 120-year-old government school was reimagined under the PRISM (Promoting Regional Schools to International Standards through Multiple Interventions) framework, had earlier inspired over 977 schools across Kerala and led to a state-wide government scale-up.
With the launch of the Kothibagh project, this proven model now reaches Jammu and Kashmir, successfully bridging regional aspirations with a unified national vision for quality public schooling.
Faizal E. Kottikollon, Founder & Chairman of KEF Holdings and Co-Founder of the Faizal & Shabana Foundation said, “Today is a historic milestone in our mission to reimagine public education in India. What began as a single initiative in Kerala’s Nadakkavu School has now grown into a nationwide movement, one that begins a new chapter in Jammu & Kashmir” said Faizal.
The newly developed DREAM School block is the result of Faizal Kottikollon’s 2023 visit to Srinagar as part of the UIBC-UC delegation, during which he committed to transforming the school.
This commitment was made during the visit that also saw the groundbreaking ceremony for the Emaar Mall of Srinagar.
The newly built Middle School block addresses both infrastructure and educator capability to ensure sustainable and measurable improvement in student performance and community confidence.
It features modern state-of-the-art classrooms, advanced Robotics and STEM laboratories and sustainable infrastructure, providing students with an inspiring space to learn, grow, and excel.
As a part of the event, the UAE–India Business Council (UAE Chapter) launched its research paper titled "Bridging Horizons: UAE–India Partnership and the Future of Education-led Development."
The paper explores how bilateral collaboration through philanthropy, CSR, and knowledge exchange can enhance India's education and skills ecosystem. It highlights the strategic role played by LT Governor Manoj Sinha and the J&K Government in supporting education-linked development and reinforces UIBC–UC’s mission of building inclusive, knowledge-based partnerships between the two nations.
The Kothibagh School project is an example of how education, when reimagined through empathy and excellence, can unite a nation as diverse as India, from Kerala’s coastlines to Kashmir’s valleys, under one shared dream - an equitable, world-class public education system for all.