A Subversive Teacher

A Subversive Teacher

In Gandhi fellowship, we work with Indian 'government elementary schools' for their upliftment in terms of their academics and infrastructure. During my field visit, I met one of my stakeholders named Mishrilal Jaiswal who is currently working as a cluster academic co-ordinator in the Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh. I felt very privileged to know his story and that is why I want his story to share with you all. 

Due to weaker financial condition, Mr. Mishrilal could not study further after 10+2. His father started involving him in farming but since he was very passionate to become a teacher. He tried to start his own school because due to his incomplete academics he could not get the chance to become a teacher. Therefore he went to the authorities for the registration but there he had been told that, to have registration for school the owner need to have at least one year of teaching experience.  So he started teaching in a private school but after acquiring the required experience he got to know that the criterion has changed regarding the experience requirement. Then he needed to have at least two years teaching exp. for the same. So he continued teaching for the next year and acquired two years of experience. Finally, he got the registration and open his school. During the four years tenure of having owned a school he completed his private graduation and become a govt. teacher.

Children started liking his teaching methodology and so he got so much love from his students have been attending his class regularly and so he has been made the class teacher for class 9th. for the attendance inhancement in his class he introduced a penality for those who reamin absents, a childeren had to give a candy treat to all his classmates if he os not attending the school. Also he used distribute the toffee to all children of the classif took the leave.  In 2013-14 his curiosity to know about the child education and pedagogy he took admission in BTC (Distance) and completed the course. He says BTC has been the turning point of his career and he has been able to work on his pedagogical skills. 

Since he was appointed as a cluster academic co-ordinator of the Mahuagaon Jan Siksha Kendra (JSK-Cluster academic Centre), A teacher became revolutionary. As he has been given the responsibility of 18 schools in his JSK for their academic as well as infrastructure upliftment to took it as an opportunity and worked very sincerly. I have seen that all my Demo schools in his JSK have toilets, electricity and fan, drinking water, and 70-80% attendance etc. The headmaster of Mahuagon high school told me that Mr. Mishrilal has done many strikes with the children until they have not provided all the facilities to the children that he asked for. 

Personality-wise he is a very simple and kind man. He lives in his village in a Mud-House with his family. He likes reading success stories of great personalities. 

Nowadays he is trying to facilitate all his schools with the boundaries and increase the attendance to100%. I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. May all his efforts give him positive results from all sides.  I hope this story would inspire some more people and teachers to become revolutionary for free and compulsory education to all. 

Thanks

-Rohit Tripathi Rageshwar