Hyderabad: Thirteen-year-old K. Srija, an eighth standard student at the Zilla Parishad High School (ZPHS) in Chintalkunta village, teaches mathematics to her co-students. The school has a single teacher so Srija’s contribution is vital. P. Augustine is the additional in-charge headmaster of the ZPHS High School and its only teacher. He has trained some of the students in such a way that they are able to teach other students and so make up the teacher deficit to some extent.
Srija, who wants to become a teacher in future, told this newspaper, “Our new teacher taught me how to teach lower classes as there are no teachers in our school. I would like to become a teacher in my school when I grow up. Our sir is really good and helped me teach the other classes. While teaching younger classes I realised that teaching is a very noble profession.” Mr Augustine says the school is from class six to class 10. “I was recently transferred to this school. As it is in a remote area, teachers are not interested in working in this school but I myself chose to work in this school because it really needs teachers. I teach mathematics and I am the only teacher in this school for now,” he told this newspaper.
He said that he joined just 10 days ago. “As we don't have any teachers apart from me, I chose a few sharp kids to teach some subjects to younger children. This will also develop leadership qualities among the children. I guide them personally and help them with the teaching notes and I also observe them when they take classes.”
The school conducts a Balasabha programme every Saturday for one-and-a- half hours and the students lead the whole programme. “We teachers don’t get involved in the programme; they only anchor the programme. The chief guest also will be from among past students like a Collector, DEO or any other official. The students write dramas about child marriage and child labour and we do this programme to develop their communication skills and to remove their stage fear,” said this enlightened educator.
