Loudspeakers spread wealth of knowledge

Palanpur:

A ‘loud’ revolution is in the making at Parpada

, a poverty stricken non-descript village nearly 8 km from Palanpur.

Every morning when the clock strikes 7.30 am, both young and the old, get ready to attend their classes – not at the village school but inside their home or under the wooden shed.

This is no online revolution ushered in the education sector through computers or cell phones. The school relays its lessons through time-tested loudspeakers!

Seven teachers, two male and five female, take turns to teach a variety of subjects including geography and history to the villagers, who even learn the basics of language together.

Loudspeakers have been installed across the village so that children and the elderly can learn while practising social distancing from the spot of their choice.

“Since July, classes for standard 1 to 8 are held daily. All students and their parents are happy that we have taken the classroom to their doorstep. With this model, we have reduced the risk of Covid-19 infection and are also providing an alternate to online education,” said vice principal Shailesh Raval.

“Our teachers who sit in the panchayat classroom inform the students about the book and the page numbers as the classes begin. Children listen to their instructions very carefully,” said principal Chetana Khamar.

Primary lessons blaring out on the loudspeakers reach all the corners of this village where not all have access to the internet on smart phones or computers.

The children sing rhymes, repeat what they hear on the speakers while the old keenly listen to what they missed during their own childhood.

“There are 16 loudspeakers spread across the village. The students do assemble outside their houses and come together to pursue their studies,” said Ramesh Chaudhary, 22, son of village sarpanch, who is pursuing his LLB studies.

“Our village school and the gram panchayat have taken this innovative step. Others too can learn from their novel experiment. We support this initiative,” he said.

District collector Anand Patel too congratulated the school and the village panchayat for their innovative initiative. “Others should take a leaf out of Parpada’s novel experiment. It has set an example to be followed by other villages,” he added.