Video Foundation Public School
History
It all began way back in the 70s when an ambitious and determined individual won a Rotary Scholarship to a Master's Programme in Educational Administration and Supervision at the Syracuse University, New York.
While in the U.S. Yasmeen met and became friends with another Femme Extraordinaire Sabiha Mohammad who was and continues to be, passionately interested in Early Childhood Education. Sabiha was completing her training in America Montessori Society in the U.S. at the time.
This commonality of visions and passions of 'Learning to Educate', brought Yasmeen and Sabiha further close, close enough to set up FPS; there has never been a moment of looking back, just 'Standing on tip-toe to look beyond'.
On their return to Karachi, providence had it all chalked out for them; both Yasmeen and Sabiha began work at the same school; Yasmeen as a Vice-Principal and Sabiha, the head of the Infant Section.
Opportunity came knocking at their doors when a school building came up for rent. The two enterprising women, along with Sabiha's cousin Raza Minhas who had returned from the U.S. securing an MBA degree for himself, leased the property and the first branch of FPS opened in P.E.C.H.S on October 14, 1981 with 14 students and 5 teachers.
Today, Foundation Public School is a well-integrated network of 10 branches (7 in Karachi and 3 in Hyderabad (Sindh). It is one of the very few educational conglomerates which read the need and spelt it out so successfully by stepping on a path where most 'feared to tread'; one of the fewer still who withstood the rising accusation that it had strengthened the hands of those who were auctioning education at exaggerated prices. But the founders of FPS have proved to its detractors that to buy quality, any price is too little.
'Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world' - Joel Barker
Hence the story of FPS continues...
Maps Foundation Public School
House system
There are three inter houses and students are randomly divided among them at the time of admission. The houses, named after important personalities in Pakistan's history, are: Jinnah (blue) named after Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Liaquat (red) named after Liaquat Ali Khan and Iqbal ( yellow) named after Muhammad Iqbal.
Inter school sports days are part of the yearly activities at FPS. Students compete in sports related activities and represent their respective houses. The house with the most points wins the annual sports trophy.
Curriculum
FPS prepares students for the International Examinations conducted by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) which issues the General Certificate of Secondary Education in Ordinary Level, and/or Advanced Level examinations.
The Hyderabad campus is the only campus to offer a Matric Diploma and Intermediate Diploma under the Sindh Board of Secondary Education.
Subjects taught at FPS include Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Computer Studies, Pakistan Studies, Urdu, Islamic Studies, English Literature, Economics, Accounting, Business Studies, Environmental Studies, Sociology, English Language, World History, Art & Design, Additional mathematics and Economics.
All students that are a citizens of Pakistan must write an examination testing their knowledge on Pakistan's History and Geography. The CIE board offers Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies to meet those requirements. Non Muslims are exempted from this writing Islamiyat but still have to write an exam based on Pakistan's History and Geography.
Students are given an option to choose their optional subjects in grade 10 while all students are required to take the five compulsory subjects which are English as First Language, Mathematics Syllabus D, Urdu as Second Language, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies.
The O Level examinations are given in two phases. In grade 10, all students sit for Islamiyat, Pakistan Studies and Urdu as Second Language. The remaining exams are given in grade 11 which include two compulsory subjects and five optional subjects. All examinations are written while representing FPS
Athletics
While the name FPSonians has existed it has not been used to represent FPS teams. Teammates have preferred the short acronym of the school name as the label to their team which is FPS.
FPS has formed teams in the following sports that compete regularly among other schools in the country:
- Football (soccer)
- Cricket
- Table tennis
- Throw ball
Football (soccer)
Initially when football was gaining popularity in the country there was no formal team representing FPS. Many students were playing for local clubs and later on schools across the country started forming official football teams. FPS was one of the pioneers in bringing football as a sports to school and its team soon became active in competing against other schools.
FPS has participated in championship tournaments organized by Karachi United Football Club (KUFC)
It has arranged an inter-school Football Tournament in which teams from other schools in Karachi compete against each other to win the championship.
Team players from the school have made their name in the FPS's team and later played for other schools while doing their A Levels.
Cricket
The oldest of all the teams FPS has had is the cricket team. The team has lost popularity as football is taking over but other campuses of FPS have maintained a cricket team. FPS has participated in inter-school tournaments.
Table tennis
In 2012, the table tennis team reached the finals against Beaconhouse School System (Jubliee Campus).
Throw ball
FPS has a girls' throw ball team who plays against other schools in Culligan Girls Throwball Tournament.
Notable achievements
Students of FPS have been noted for their achievements as Outstanding Achiever Awards in CIE Examinations conducted by University of Cambridge.
A student was awarded "My Bright Smile" -- Global Art Contest and was awarded $250. In June 2009, a student received the highest grade around the world in Additional Mathematics.
Mahira Khan who is a prominent Pakistani Video jockey and actress graduated from FPS in 1998.
In 2008, a student achieved the highest grade in Additional Mathematics, Physics and Principals of Accounting in addition to all A grades in other subjects totalling to 11 As in O-Levels. The student was also awarded the highest scholar award from FPS and Outstanding Achiever Awards from University of Cambridge.
In 2008, a student, Faizan Kanji, scored the highest points in Pakistan in the annual Kangaroo Math Contest winning the gold medal. Another student scored the highest level of performance in The Pakistan Kangaroo Commission Mathematics Contest held in August 2011. In 2009, a student called Usman Raza won Bronze Medal in Kangaroo Maths Competition. In March 2012, a group of students were taken to the Sindh Assembly.
In July 2012, FPS sent students to participate in a seminar related to the dumping of waste in Arabian Sea that connects to the coast of Karachi.
FPS is not working on making community service work mandatory for all A-Level schools in the city. This will be a condition on all students in order to proceed to their second year of A-Levels, at least at FPS if not implemented at other schools in Karachi. An activity like this is closely similar to the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma which requires students to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community service before they can graduate.
Saad Shahid has been a squash champion bringing back many trophies and medals. Shahid represents Pakistan at many levels and is currently an active squash player. He graduated from Foundation Public School in 2008 receiving his GCSE in O Level.
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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