Education system in rural Meghalaya has not always been in a top shape and children are unable to find themselves at par with those in the urban areas due to inequalities of resources and learning outcomes.
However, a government lower primary school in Byrki village about 49 km from Nongstoiñ, West Khasi Hills is a shining example on how other government LP schools can ride on challenges and grow amidst the mismatch in accessibility to quality education.
All this is because of the presence of a source of hope and inspiration in a teacher named, Shemphanglin Khardewsaw who has turned his vocation into a mission.
Highland Post chanced to view a video posted by the teacher in his YouTube channel on how young students stay glued to the faded school wall during a smart class with maximum concentration.
As a young educator, Khardewsaw joined the Byrki Government LP School two years ago, already equipped with the required qualification to teach. With Physics as his background, this multi-talented teacher also holds a master degree in music and a sports enthusiast.
What is interesting about Khardewsaw is through his devotion, dedication and commitment he was able to increase student enrolment from 57 to 160 students in two years through his creative ideas.
Speaking about the introduction of smart class, Khardewsaw said he was trained last month by Schoolnet organised by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency and the World Bank. Through this, he has managed to improve schooling experience for students and made learning fun and interesting for the students.
The school like any other government LP school is not free from hole-ridden rooftops. But not expecting much, repair works are done by four teachers, including Khardewsaw with their meagre earnings. Two of the teachers are paid through the contribution of West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Garod LSN Dykes.
“We don’t have funds from the government but all we do in the school is through available resources and team work with the community,” Khardewsaw said.
While the school has internet connectivity through Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) it has no electricity connection. He said electricity to the school is donated by a neighbour.
Byrki Government LP School is not about a regular classroom for the children of the village. Through community participation, Khardewsaw contribute to the youth by offering free tuitions and free music class at the school, where he teaches the guitar and the keyboards as well as tonic sol-fa.
In sports, Khardewsaw said the school has recently introduced basketball and cricket to the students and they have been able to construct a basketball court with expenditure from their own pockets. Again, through community participation and seeing his commitment football jerseys were also donated to the school by concern individuals, who want to see the school achieve heights of success.
Honoured with the Young Talented Artiste Award for 2017-2018 for outstanding achievement in tribal music from the Northeast Zone Cultural Centre, Ministry of Culture, Khardewsaw also won the Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2023 from the Martin Luther Christian University.
“I am a teacher with big expectations. I want to contribute not just to the children but the village community and by the grace of God I hope to see many changes in Byrki,” Khardewsaw said, adding, “This is my mission and my calling.”
