Meet this model teacher who is helping students amid pandemic
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 26 2020: Amid the coronavirus pandemic that has closed all schools and thrown normal life out of gear, a school Headmistress (in-charge) is assisting students with physical exercise, study and making delivery of midday meal door-to-door.

"As the pandemic is having a toll on the students and their families, I decided to help out them in any possible way.

I am simply trying to make these children stay healthy and take interest in their study even though the pandemic has shut schools," said Kshetrimayum Babylee Devi, Headmistress-in-charge of Langthabal Kunja Junior High School.

Kshetrimayum Babylee Devi, Headmistress-in-charge of Langthabal Kunja Junior High School

The teacher is not only delivering the midday meal items which include 5 kg of rice, pulses, potatoes, onion etc door-to-door, she is also helping the students and other children of the locality learn the traditional martial arts Thang-Ta.

"Around 50 children participate in the Thang-Ta class daily.

The aim is to help them get the necessary exercise during the lockdown and ensure they stay healthy and fit.

Besides, Thang-Ta is a cultural heritage which should be promoted," said Babylee who is sponsoring the fees for the children.

Commenting on the COVID-19 pandemic, she said that the activities being taken up including the Thang-Ta practice are done adhering to the social/physical distancing norms at open ground adjacent to the school.

Not only she helps students with their studies, she also visits the school daily and look after the needs and various activities.

"As we clean our houses daily, the school also needs the same care.

Afterall, this is where the students earn their knowledge and get polished to become successful persons in future," the teacher said.

Most of the families of the children of the school are poor.

It is important that a teacher understands the condition and background of the students.

Many of the parents are not able to concentrate and pay much attention to their children's education, she said adding she visits the parents of select children and study their grievances.

To help improve their status and income, some of them are also given skill training programmes under Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and JSS (Jana Shikshan Sansthan) .

Giving these families a better earning (income) option helps the children ultimately get proper education, she said.

Further to encourage the children, eminent personalities and achievers in different fields are invited to the school for lively interaction programmes, she said.

The school also has a kitchen garden where students and teachers plant and nurture various vegetables, fruit trees among others.

Rain water is harvested to water the plants and vegetables, she said.

Kshetrimayum Babylee is daughter of late Ksh Dhiren Singh of Singjamei Torban Kshetri Leikai.

She first joined Wangkhei High School as a Hindi graduate teacher in 2011 .