Thane’s Singhania school imparts education in rural Madhya Pradesh

Revathi Srinivasan

We have been saying this far too long …Rethink, Relearn, Redefine & Redesign, Education. And we made the beginning, in the Spring of 2020! Every educator across the globe developed a greater sense of purpose, an urgency to carry out the tasks, all the essential skills-sets to go with it and re-discovered the joy of teaching thus, we started realizing our own potential. So, in March we had it clearly spelt out – Find your calling and change the world you are in.

One of my schools is tucked deep in the rural Madhya Pradesh where 90% of the children come from villages close-by. They are first generation learners. They do not have devices at home to access online classes. Some do have a smartphone but they are available to the children only after the parent returns home from work. In the initial months we did what we could – sent recorded materials, worksheets, YouTube uploads and even had telephonic tutoring. But, that was no fun. We knew that if we had a problem on hand, there ought to be solution. The solution here required changing our own mind-set. Thanks to all my teachers at Lodhikhera who cared to make a beginning.

If children cannot come to school, can we take the school to the children? And then, we worked hard and long. Teachers walked through the by-lanes of the villages where most of our students lived. We looked for space to run a Singhania School in the villages of Lodhikhera and Boregaon. A couple of enthusiastic like-minded parents helped us with a small community hall in each of these villages. We only wanted our teachers to reach out to the children. The villagers supported us. Students in small numbers have started attending school in their own neighbourhood. The teachers in the villages have started their sessions with great enthusiasm. It is lovely to see teachers and students walk to the Village Study Centers. The students may not have the best facilities but the learning has continued especially for those without devices.

We don’t have to wait for a Revolution in Education to happen, we just can take small steps to make a big difference.

So, what do we call our school? A little voice screamed – “Mohalla School”  

Proud to say –My Neighbourhood School. 

Revathi Srinivasan is the Director – Education Singhania Schools and Principal, Smt Sulochanadevi Singhania School, Thane