The inspiring story of Mr Popatrao Funde

Schools have been shut due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing children to stay at home. Funde sir realised that if the situation continues, there would be tremendous loss to student learning. He lives about 7-8 km away from the school he teaches in. He teaches students of grade I and II in ZP primary school, Vykarvasti in Pathardi Taluka of Ahmednagar District. Most of his students come from economically challenged backgrounds as most parents are daily wage workers.  Funde sir uses teaching aids to make learning interesting for his students. Every year, in the summer vacations, he either makes new teaching aids or gives new life to the old aids. With the nationwide lockdown in place he knew that his usual teaching aids would not be helpful to his students and so he designed kits which had teaching aids for every student of his. The kits were personalised according to the need and grade of each child. His wife, son and friends helped him make these personalised kits. He also paid for white boards for those students who needed them to study efficiently at home. Funde sir was aware that the kits by themselves were not enough. His students needed his guidance as well. He also believed that online learning would not benefit his students of grade 1 and 2. With these thoughts in mind, he started his own programme called ‘teacher at your doorstep/ शिक्षक आपल्या अंगणी wherein he visited his students at their homes and guided them in their studies. Under the new programme Funde sir modified his style of teaching and focused on teaching each child as per his/her ability. He made small groups of those students who stayed in the same neighbourhood. He requested the help of parents and older students in the neighbourhood to help younger students with their studies. Help was willingly given to him by all. 

Now the parents who were worried about the education of their young ones are relieved. Funde sir’s creative mind and skillful hands have been successful in keeping his students engaged in learning.

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