Indian teachers give pupils new perspective on learning in Pakefield

Harpreet Kaur with year 9 Students. Pictures: Nick Butcher (Image: (C) Archant 2015)

Partnered by a British Council scheme, Pakefield High School has links with the Sir Padampat Singhania Education Centre in Kanpur, India.

And as part of the programme, two teachers from the centre visited Lowestoft to share ideas about education and culture.

The centre's vice-principal Bhawna Gupta said: 'We have been to the classrooms, observing the lessons and we found there are so

many similarities, even though we are so far apart.

'Everybody is so enthusiastic to know about each other.

'They've done some lessons about India and the children have asked so many questions.

'I think this time the children know us so well, the feel the partnership has grown, they know so much about the school, and about India.'

The Sir Padampat Singhania Education Centre has 3,000 pupils between three and 18 years old, and the pair were keen to take lessons with Pakefield High School pupils.

Teacher Harpreet Kaur said: 'We came prepared with a lot of activities. The idea is to exchange the best educational practices. We respect the differences and we really appreciate the similarities across the countries.'

They took year-seven pupils for a lesson and a whole school assembly last week, covering topics including the physical geography of India and the country's various cultures and traditions.

Twelve-year-old Emily Monkhouse was in the class and said: 'It's nice because we're learning about someone from another culture that you wouldn't necessarily think about otherwise.'

Classmate Max Emerson, also 12, said: 'I think it's good because it's a bit different and it's not everyday you get to speak to someone from India.

'We can learn from their point of view.'

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