While Goregaon teacher went all out to help her former student struggling without a smartphone, Malad school and its teachers are supporting their pupils, most of whom are from underpriviledged backgrounds, with phones, data packs, other educational necessities
Tarulata Sawant-Sonkar, trustee and headmistress of Chandrabhaga Vidya Mandir, with her students
The massive changes brought on by the pandemic made several suffer, especially students who faced many challenges throughout their academic years. But amid all this, they had teachers who were always present in times of hardships.
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One among them was Seema Alaskar, a teacher from Goregaon. Her former student was in dire need of a smartphone for her Std X studies, and Alaskar was more than happy to help her. Recalling her conversation with Tanvi in July last year, Alaskar, 43, said Tanvi had asked if I had an old smartphone which she can use for her Std X studies. “She told me, ‘ma’am can you please give me a smartphone to study? I will repay you once I start earning’.”
Moved by her former student’s appeal, Alaskar and her husband decided to buy her one, as they had had already donated three old ones to Adivasi children from Aarey forest.
“Tanvi told me she would pay for the phone once she starts earning. I told her to just remember this and help others in need whenever she can,” said Alaskar, who had taught Tanvi from Std V to Std VII when she worked at Dyaneshwar Vidya Mandir in Kandivli.
Even though Alaskar was not teaching at the school anymore, Tanvi knew if someone could help her it was her former teacher. “I had a special connection with ma’am. She has been guiding me ever since we met,” said the Kandivli resident.
Only her elder sister had a smartphone which Tanvi used in May. “But around June-July, my sister’s lectures started and it was becoming difficult for the both of us to study with a single phone,” said Tanvi, whose mother works as a domestic help and father is in house-keeping. She is the second of three siblings.
Meanwhile, a Malad school and its teachers are ensuring that their SSC students are not deprived of proper education during an important academic year. Chandrabhaga Vidya Mandir at Pimpripada, Malad, made a collective effort. It set an example by not only providing their students with smartphones, but also financing their internet data packs, buying them notebooks and other educational necessities.
School gave 30 phones
The school last year distributed 30 smartphones to Std X students. “We tied up with social organisations and our teachers also helped. We are trying a similar endeavour for this year’s Std X batch,” said Tarulata Sawant-Sonkar, trustee and headmistress at Ganesh Seva Mandal’s Chandrabhaga Vidya Mandir.
“We have extended similar support to younger kids in need. We cater to children from underprivileged families, with many living with single mothers, who work as domestic helps. We know they have been severely affected due to the pandemic,” she added.
Tarulata said the management and teachers are together in this, as “we believe these students need such special aid in these tough times. As we are government-aided, teachers’ salary is not an expenditure for us, so we have reduced the fee and in fact we are working on a no-fee plan during the pandemic. Our teachers, too, are committed to the idea.”
While teachers and schools are doing their best to support children from underprivileged background, a teachers’ organisation has written to the chief minister for help.
“These teachers and schools are really setting an example. But the government should also make extra efforts for children facing tremendous academic loss due to several constraints. It can also connect with social organisations and celebrities or divert CSR funds to help children. There are so many religious trusts, too, which can help, especially now that there is no certainty on when this new normal will end,” said Shivnath Darade of Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Parishad.
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