Education
Seed-ing math skills with ancient board games
Who needs hi-tech or even flashcards when rocks, seeds and animals can help teach kids math? Yes, this National Mathematics Day we’re talking old-fashioned board games - still embraced by rural India - that sharpen brains and are fun to play.
Education comes to a community ridiculed as rat-eaters
A school for Musahar girls in Patna, the state capital of Bihar, is challenging the caste system that looked down upon people who “ate rats”. As they get an education, they are slowly rewriting their future.
A saviour school for Assam’s displaced Bengali Muslim children
Musabirul Hoque, a social activist who represents Assam’s displaced Bengali Muslims, sets up a school for children of the community, giving them a fresh chance at life. Village Square does a recce.
Mandla makeover – How MP’s cyber crime hub became a literacy model
When 4,500 volunteers set out to transform Mandla in 2020, it was notorious for its low literacy rates and cyber fraud. It then became the first district in Madhya Pradesh to achieve 100 percent functional literacy.
Bihar’s STEM girls embrace coding to land lucrative jobs
School of Programming, a collaborative initiative of Project Potential and NavGurukul in Kishanganj, is empowering young women from rural Bihar with software coding skills, opening doors to aspirational careers and transforming their future.
An aspirational district’s quest to fix STEM education for girls
Gumla, an aspirational district in Jharkhand, is reimagining STEM education at the school-level through a host of initiatives supported by existing resources and trying new, innovative methods, such as sending girl students to ISRO on an experiential trip.
Rider cycles his way to reviving sustainable farming in Bihar
Rakesh Rider, a 48-year-old cyclist and agroecologist, is promoting sustainable farming through his initiatives Studio Saag and Bagmati Vidyapeeth, wherein he teaches students about natural farming, seed preservation and reducing agriculture costs.
Bamboo schools transform education for migrant workers’ kids in Punjab
Punjab’s eco-friendly bamboo schools address the pressing issue of migrant workers’ children missing out on education due to safety concerns and the lack of nearby institutions.
Educational society transforms lives in rural Uttar Pradesh
Educating girls empowers them. The Pardada Pardadi Educational Society is making a difference to the locals of Anupshahr by schooling girls from underprivileged backgrounds.
Education brings a ray of hope in Chhattisgarh’s red corridor
Schools in Sukma district in the red corridor of Chhattisgarh became nonfunctional due to Naxal insurgency. Now the district administration is making education available for everyone and successfully coaching students for professional courses.
Elders trade thumbprints for signatures in twilight of their lives
Bebe Bapu School in Punjab’s Bathinda district shows that education has no age limit as nearly 80 elders learn to read, sign their names and do basic maths under the guidance of a 28-year-old teacher.
Beacon of learning shines on through these teachers in Indian villages
A forest guard who doubles as an educator. A woman who trains others in tailoring. A ‘Dehati Madam’ who teaches English… Rural India is full of inspiring examples of teachers. This Teachers' Day we revisit some of these stories.
This Arunachal boarding school is fostering Adi tribe’s cultural heritage
Nilung Tungko, an all-boys boarding school in Komsing, is playing a crucial role in preserving the Adi tribe’s cultural heritage, blending traditional and modern education for children from impoverished families, focusing on the Donyi Polo faith in Arunachal Pradesh.
Odisha man gains recognition for humanitarian innovations
Ashish Mahana, a 46-year-old from Odisha’s Sambalpur, left his well-paying corporate job to pursue his passion for innovation, developing a smart stick featuring obstacle sensors and GPS tech to aid the blind.
This paan seller is an inspiring life coach in rural Odisha
Narahari Malla, a 77-year-old paan shop owner in Baanbarada village of Odisha’s Puri district, imparts invaluable life lessons to students across multiple schools, teaching traditional values and holistic well-being.
Odisha delivery agent seeks support to continue MBBS
Despite facing financial challenges, the determination of Hebal Pradhan, who hails from a remote village in Odisha, to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor has ignited a wave of support from his community, his medical college and well-wishers.
Lado Pustakalaya: Women’s village library nurtures dreams of aspiring scholars
In Sarsod village of Haryana’s Hisar district, a library for women offers peace and uninterrupted study time, away from distractions and challenges at home.
Main Bhi Curie: Haryana schoolgirls learn secrets of science
A school in Jalmana village of Haryana’s Panipat district witnesses ‘Main Bhi Curie’, a transformative initiative that aims to foster STEM education and scientific temperament among girls.
‘More awareness is needed about safe internet use’
“We need to involve parents in conversations about internet safety,” Unmesh Joshi, co-founder and COO of Responsible Netism, tells Village Square.
Letters that sing and dance
Warnamala Pariwar, a Kalimpong-based organisation, uses local references to make education more fun for young children by integrating music, animation and games into alphabet lessons.