US Second Lady Jill Biden has described her recent visit to a Muslim girls school in Mumbai as "special", while hailing the passion for learning among students in India.
Biden, who visited the Anjuman-i-Islam Saif Tyabji Girl's school in Mumbai this week, wrote in a White House blog entry that she was impressed with the talent of girls from the school.
"As an educator, today was a special day for me in Mumbai. I visited the Anjuman-i-Islam Saif Tyabji Girl's school," she said.
She was in India with her husband, US Vice President Joe Biden on a four-day visit to the country from July 22-25.
"The students that I've met around the world, especially in India, have shown great passion for learning and - this dedication is what will empower women throughout this country and abroad to leave the world better than how we found it," Biden wrote in the blog entry following her India trip.
Describing her visit to the all-girls school, she said that as a mother of a daughter she wanted girls to understand that they can do anything they put their mind to.
"I reminded the students that education will give them the tools they need to succeed on a lifelong path. A good education will give them - and their families - the opportunity to excel regardless of gender," she said.
The all-girls Muslim school was founded in 1939 and currently enrols 5,500 girls.
"The school has committed itself to being a dedicated public servant in the Mumbai area - many of the students are from local orphanages," Biden wrote.
Recognising the role of this institution in the community, US sponsors English classes at the school and has helped establish their computer lab.
"When the work force has access to education it creates more experienced workers as well as confident young women," the US second lady said.
Narrating how her day went during the school visit, Biden wrote: "When I arrived at the school I was greeted by a lively band and then stopped by an English class. In fact, I caught the beginnings of a lesson on conjunctions! One of the students, Miss Zafar, was a spirited emcee and gave me a wonderful introduction to all the students at a school assembly.
