Mansa science teacher selected for national award

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August, 23

Amarjit Singh (40), a science teacher from Joyian village in Mansa district, has devised a child-centred approach to teach by laying more emphasis on practical learning. He did so by first studying the psyche of children (his students) minutely and subsequently made nuanced alterations in the pedagogy to reap rich dividends later. Singh’s marvellous contribution in the field of education has been recognised by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) and decided to confer him with National Award for Teachers on September 5 (on Teacher’s Day) at New Delhi.

The state Education Department recommended the names of six teachers for national award. After a lengthy and rigorous process, including a presentation and interview session, Singh was selected for the award for the year 2018.

Another concept coined by Singh was ‘buildings as learning aid’ under this he painted and drawn different formulae of mathematics and concepts of science on walls and pillars of school buildings.

He also has drawn angles, educative images, rhymes (poems), pictures, dictionary on walls and solar system on ceiling of the classroom. Singh also developed science and mathematics parks and labs in school premises.

Owing to his innovative methods he managed to increased (even double) admissions in government schools and the Education Department transferred him to different schools to replicate the same models there.

Talking to Bathinda Tribune, Amarjit Singh who started his teaching career 13 years ago at Government Primary School, Shekhupur, said, “A simple question asked by students changed my entire perspective about teaching and sown seeds to bring about change in education system. An average student spend around half-an-hour outside the classroom on daily basis (during recess break, washroom or for taking water). As part of the ‘building as learning aid’ concept they would be learning in an engaging and more interactive way even when they are walking inside the premises of the school.”

Moreover, with financial help from NRIs and residents of the district he has turned many schools into smart classrooms.

“I always laid emphasis on how to ensure maximum outcome with minimum investment. Making students listen/watch to stories through audio-visual players was really effective as they could able to absorb the concept easily. After observing lack of mathematical and scientific temperament of students in government schools from rural areas, I introduced different types of learning aids and models to teach them in an effective manner,” Singh added.

He also developed models of Bhakhra dam, habitation in mountains, wind mill, irrigation system in Punjab and also digital library (to provide free access to books and literature on internet). Singh made efforts to ensure that students of primary schools develop reading habit early on so that they can benefit from it for rest of their life. He lays emphasis on building confidence level of students from rural areas (studying in government schools) who often lack it.

After his concerted efforts and employing innovative concepts, many parents got attracted to get their wards enrolled in his school, subsequently two private schools have closed down in one of the villages recently.

Singh has even delivered state-level training on smart school development and quality education enhancement in government schools. Amarjit is a son of a retired Army officer and his mother is a housewife. Currently, he is serving at Government Senior Secondary School, Ranghrial village.