On mission mode, teachers pool funds for govt school in Jind village

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kasuhan (Jind), January 21

Lessons in mathematics, English and brain games adorn the walls of the government primary school at this village in the rural heartland of the state.

Children from financially humble families have free access to smart classrooms and enjoy reading in tiny classroom libraries.

A group of six teachers have been working hard for the last more than a year to bringing academic improvement to this village school, about 20 km from the district headquarters.

Scores of students are able to converse in English and their teachers are using innovative teaching by using Internet on a projector donated by Dharambir Sharma, principal of a private school in the village.

Headteacher Ravinder Kumar said his colleagues were able to rope in the owner of a private school and two principals of private institutes to contribute to improving facilities at this state-run school.

After being transferred to Kasuhan on September 22, 2016, teachers decided to pool in Rs 2,000 per month for several changes. Voluntary funds were being utilised to improve space used by students and not the staff room.

“After getting choice-based posting at Kasuhan, our aim was to work wholeheartedly for the betterment of villagers. We were able to admit 100 students from private schools in the last session and the school strength reached 225,” he said.

His colleagues Virender Redhu and Tika Ram said they had toiled for laying floor tiles, plumbing and pot decoration. They said they had pooled in funds for stationery and notebooks for the students.

“More than 95 per cent attendance indicates that students enjoy coming to school. Our team hired professionals to decorate the exterior walls with cartoon characters. Every corner of the interior walls is painted and designed as an information tool,” said Redhu.

As mobile phone coverage was good, teachers had been using the Internet for various demonstrative and knowledge assignments.

Villagers had donated 15 ceiling fans and the panchayat had started working on infrastructural development. Devender Attri, running a private school, donated a double-battery inverter.

“Convinced with the social initiative undertaken by teachers, I am ready to contribute more to the school. Since everyone cannot afford private school education, I consider it my social obligation to support such enterprising staff,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner Amit Khatri said the school had set an example with others, including the panchayat, chipping in for improvement at the grassroots.