Schools in West Bengal have been closed due to the pandemic for a year and a half, with a teacher from West Bardhaman district bringing the classroom to the doorsteps of students. The 32-year-old has painted blackboards on the mud walls of several houses on both sides of Jaba village to show children the three rupees of education – reading, writing and arithmetic.
Dwipanarayan Nayak, who received the title of “Rasta Master” (master on the road), said, “The problems of Bengali and English alphabets and mathematics and their solutions are written with chalk on those blackboards.” The walls which have been fitted with temporary blackboards have been given a fresh coat of paint. They were also painted with colorful graffiti, nursery rhymes and social messages including the need to take vaccines.
The classes are held at regular intervals in the village of Jamuria area of the district, making both the students and their parents happy. Teacher of the area’s Tilka Manjhi Primary School brought the class to the doorstep of the students before Nayak Nayak, apart from a road under trees at eight places he had started taking classes.
“But it was not possible for everyone to attend classes under trees because of insects. Moreover, some of them have to help the elders in the farming work. So I decided to make blackboards on the walls of their houses and take classes there. The parents thought that people infected with malaria were possessed by ghosts.
“I managed to bring a microscope to the classroom in the village and show them the malaria virus. I showed them how flowers bloom and how trees grow. Most of these children are at the primary stage and they are first generation learners.”
“I have invented my own teaching manual for them,” Nayak smiled as his students, many of them girls, chanted a poem written by him on the need to wash their hands regularly and clapped after every line. asked to play. The hero does not charge anything from his disciples for service and draws all his resources. They also get help from family and friends.
“I am hopeful that when the school reopens I will be able to ensure zero dropouts among the children of the area. But I would like to continue the current initiative.” Rimki Oraon, a student of class six, said that she felt sad when the school was closed due to Corona.
“But later, sir started taking classes on the road and then at our doorstep. We are very happy now.” Sital Baski, a villager, said they thank Nayak for coming forward to teach the children when the school is closed. “The teacher’s initiative is commendable. We are on their side,” Jamuria MLA Hareram Singh said.
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