Meet the maths teacher who set up a smart lab at a panchayat school in Cuddalore district with her own funds

Math teacher E. Rajalakshmi, 52, raised ₹4 lakh from her own savings to equip Thangalikuppam Panchayat Union Middle School in Kurunjipadi, Cuddalore district with a state-of-the-art smart lab. The lab benefits students from classes 6 to 8, providing interactive learning through syllabus-based modules. Donations from Rotary Club, former students and Panchayat helped purchase audio gadgets, boosting attendance and understanding of concepts.

Students of the Thangalikuppam Panchayat Union Middle School in Kurunjipadi in Cuddalore district are now exposed to smart learning, thanks to a teacher.

The school, with about 143 students on its rolls now has a state-of-the-art smart lab, equipped with a projector and computers, facilitating interactive learning due to the efforts of the school’s Mathematics teacher E. Rajalakshmi, 52, who raised ₹4 lakh from her own savings to set up up the facility.

The smart class benefits students from classes 6 to 8, who make use of the syllabus-based module developed by a non-governmental organisation.

It all started when Ms. Rajalakshmi attended a brainstorming session for government school teachers across the State in Karaikudi in Sivaganga district in 2017. The session laid emphasis on the innovative use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for enhancing learning in schools, and she wanted to replicate ICT in her school.

However, she realised that most government schools lack advanced infrastructure. Ms. Rajalakshmi discussed the need for a smart lab in the school, with the school’s headmaster, but as funding remained a major issue due to the lack of budgetary provisions, she decided to raise money for the smart lab.

“I pitched in with ₹1 lakh from my savings account and purchased a smart board equipped with a projector and speakers in 2017. Initially, I purchased two Android mobile phones and used them as a tool for teaching in the classrooms. I realised that the students’ interest levels increased, and pooled in another ₹3 lakh from my savings, to purchase 21 computers in 2021,” Ms. Rajalakshmi says.

On learning about the initiative, the Rotary Club donated ₹24,000 to the smart lab while former students and the Panchayat donated ₹17,000. Ms. Rajalakshmi used this money to buy audio gadgets for the lab.