Vadodara: He wakes up at the crack of the dawn, gets ready and leaves his home by 7.30 am on Sunday. Anil Makwana, 45, drives his scooter to reach Boridra village that is 18km away from his home in Rajpipla taluka of Narmada district.
As soon kids in the village hear sound of his scooter, they cheered for Makwana and welcome him. Since the government announced lockdown in March, this has been his routine every week. Makwana could have relaxed at home and spent time with his wife and three children amid lockdown. Instead, he chose to not just educate but also entertain his school students.
“Boridra is located in interiors and surrounded by hillocks. Forget internet, one doesn’t even get mobile network there. When the lockdown was announced I felt concerned for my students there as they would have lost out on studies as online teaching was out of question. So I decided to travel to the village thrice a week,” Makwana told TOI.
He visits the village and despite sweltering heat, Makwana spends seven to eight hours with the students, many of whom come from very poor families. Students can’t be gathered in the school, so he visits their home to impart lessons. “In usual days, I teach students between 3rd to 5th standard. But due to lockdown, no teachers are available here. So I now take standard I to standard VIII classes and manage to cover five to six homes in every visit,” Makwana added.
Apart from mathematics, science and environment, Makwana also teaches crafts, story-telling and different games to the students who are thrilled to learn something new each time. Makwana carries his own blackboard, chalks and duster every time and he ensures that students maintain safe distance and wear mask during the classes.
“I spend money for fuel from my own pocket. When many good Samaritans and organizations are doing noble work during Coronavirus crisis, I felt that this is the minimum I can do as a teacher. I am glad that the students are enjoying my sessions,” Makwana, who has won best teacher’s award from the state government, said.
One of his students, Jaya Vasava said, “Our teacher drives so far and visits our homes to teach us is itself an inspiration. We didn’t miss a single class and also learnt a lot of other activities in last one and half months.”
As soon kids in the village hear sound of his scooter, they cheered for Makwana and welcome him. Since the government announced lockdown in March, this has been his routine every week. Makwana could have relaxed at home and spent time with his wife and three children amid lockdown. Instead, he chose to not just educate but also entertain his school students.
“Boridra is located in interiors and surrounded by hillocks. Forget internet, one doesn’t even get mobile network there. When the lockdown was announced I felt concerned for my students there as they would have lost out on studies as online teaching was out of question. So I decided to travel to the village thrice a week,” Makwana told TOI.
He visits the village and despite sweltering heat, Makwana spends seven to eight hours with the students, many of whom come from very poor families. Students can’t be gathered in the school, so he visits their home to impart lessons. “In usual days, I teach students between 3rd to 5th standard. But due to lockdown, no teachers are available here. So I now take standard I to standard VIII classes and manage to cover five to six homes in every visit,” Makwana added.
Apart from mathematics, science and environment, Makwana also teaches crafts, story-telling and different games to the students who are thrilled to learn something new each time. Makwana carries his own blackboard, chalks and duster every time and he ensures that students maintain safe distance and wear mask during the classes.
“I spend money for fuel from my own pocket. When many good Samaritans and organizations are doing noble work during Coronavirus crisis, I felt that this is the minimum I can do as a teacher. I am glad that the students are enjoying my sessions,” Makwana, who has won best teacher’s award from the state government, said.
One of his students, Jaya Vasava said, “Our teacher drives so far and visits our homes to teach us is itself an inspiration. We didn’t miss a single class and also learnt a lot of other activities in last one and half months.”
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