EMRS Bhopal Principal who turned school around is among National Teachers’ Award recipients
The Hindu
EMRS Bhopal Principal who turned school around is among National Teachers’ Award recipients.
Among the 50 school teachers who were awarded the National Teachers’ Award by President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday was Yashpal Singh, Principal of the Eklavya Model Residential School, Bhopal. Dr. Singh ensured near full-capacity attendance from first generation school-going tribal children with simple approaches, including students’ have a say in deciding meals, and recreating what they liked about their forest homes at the residential school.
Dr. Singh, along with 74 other teachers from across the country, received the award from the President of India on September 5, and also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence for tea. After being felicitated by Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda on Wednesday, the 61-year-old Principal spoke to The Hindu on the school’s transformation.
“All I had to start with were chalks and dusters. Now, we have a world-class library, smart classrooms, and state-of-the-art labs,” he said, adding that when he took charge in 2018, just 61 students had taken admission, and the school had seen two Principals in two years.
EMRSs are residential schools for Scheduled Tribe (ST) children run as a Central scheme under the supervision of the National Education Society for Tribal Students. Each school has a capacity of 480 students from Classes 6 to 12.
“There are currently 465 students at EMRS Bhopal, but most of the time, it is at full capacity of 480,” Dr. Singh said, adding that he took help from the State and Union governments, the public, and students to make this happen. The school has recorded a zero-dropout rate in the last five years, and Dr. Singh said a large part of that came from involving the students in decision-making processes.
“We certainly improved the food quality but more importantly, I took meetings with the students and they would tell us what they wanted to eat in the mess for meals. We would accommodate dishes that they usually eat at home as well,” said Dr. Singh, who has a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Bhopal University.
The decision-making process originates with student representatives, above whom are teacher representatives, following which Dr. Singh reviews the arrangement and signs off on it.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.