When Kesar Singh Rathor reached his first posting at Akha Dungri about 20 years ago, there was no school building. He used to teach in the houses of the local community members. Many kids would come without taking a bath or even proper clothes on. He would cut their hairs, nails and take bath with them in the river nearby. Slowly and slowly, kids were encouraged to take school attendance more seriously. About 15 years ago, two rooms were built there. The number of students later increased and other teachers was also posted. About ten years ago, he moved to Dandhoda primary school, Chhota Udaipur, Vadodara district. So far, 21 students from his school have been selected for Navodaya Vidalaya.
To prevent dropouts, he made a team of three students from each hamlet, and assigned them the responsibility to bring ten or more students from that settlement. If someone is missing, they have to ascertain the reason, if sick, find out her/his well being. The teacher thus knew whereabouts of each student. For the last six years, he has brought the dropout rate to zero. There are always students who are weak in studies but they me may be strong in cultural activities or sports. He makes sure that such students also get a chance to show their talent.
When he faced the problem of some girls not coming to school or the father of a child not appreciating the importance of education, he organised a mother-and-daughter meet for the school. This resolved the problems and mothers proved more concerned about the education and well being of children then fathers. To avoid misuse or diversion of tribal scholarship money by parents, he would call uniform providers to school and ask the children to buy their uniform on the spot.
When Kesar Singh planted trees in school, there was a problem of saplings getting stolen, he decided to plant some in school but gave a majority of seedlings every year to children to plant at their house. Many parents used to go for a nature’s call in the school premises. He shared this problem in the parents-teachers meet and asked them if their children had to clean the mess, would they still do that? Slowly, this problem has also been solved.
He has appointed 16 ‘ministers’ from among the children for taking care of various tasks including putting garlands on the photos of heroes hanging on the wall, keeping water point clean, sanitation, etc., and the school always remains tidy now. There are seven teachers in this school and the youngest of them, Arunbhai downloads interesting clips, movies about wildlife and comics from the internet on his personal mobile and then shows these on an LCD screen and 12 computers during the recess.
It is not that they have succeeded in every mission. When it comes to drinking habits, despite repeated admonishment in parents meetings, it still continues but at least younger people are keeping away. When parents of some children migrate, they are given migration cards so that they can get the children enrolled in the village where they go for work. Six such kids got the benefit of this scheme in this school, only about 3,500 children were issued such cards in 2008-09 in the entire state. One needs to investigate whether this is all the extent of seasonal migration in the state.
Manuben Naharsi Parmar has set up an ayurvedic garden in her government primary school in Netran and planted about 120 trees of more than 30 species in the school compound during the last three years. Each tree has been marked with the name of his student along with his class. Now the children complain if any one takes even a leaf of their tree without authorisation or purpose. She has also created a kitchen garden where children grow vegetables to be used in mid day meal. A physically challenged child, Brijesh, from this school got an award under the Vanchey Gujarat (‘Gujarat Reads’) programme at the state level.
Anjanaben, Mohanbhai, Moja primary school, Valia, inspired by Kamleshbhai (about whom I have written earlier) and six other teachers have also transformed the ambience of the entire school through plantation of trees and 80 species of ayurvedic and other plants. Children are given assignments to observe the flowering, leaf shape and such other properties of these plants and thus learn to observe nature. Teachers contribute Rs 100 from their salary every month and use it for common expenses on school farm, garden and other activities. The teachers also make decoction of medicinal plants and give to children every year when the season changes as a preventive health measure.
Small steps, taken by many teachers, at several places can bring about a definite change in the quality of education in every state. But which chief minister has found a day to spend with outstanding teachers at every level? None so far. But it will change some day, I am sure. When teachers become the fulcrum of change, nobody can stop that society from progressing.
