PUNE: Twelve-hour classes all-year round, creative writing skills that outshine those of peers, and multiplication tables memorised up to 1,000. A school in a Nashik backwater is creating ripples with all that and more, drawing Maharashtra education minister Dada Bhuse to the remote tribal hamlet within weeks of taking charge.
The whiz-kids at the zilla parishad school at Hiwali village in Trimbakeshwar taluka are no bookworms, though. They blend classroom lessons with practical skills such as welding, electrical work and organic farming, reflecting a holistic approach to education.
Most of those achievements have come through the innovative efforts of Keshav Gavit. “This extraordinary commitment to learning not only fostered a deep love for schooling among the children but also cultivated remarkable academic abilities in them,” Gavit said.
Interacting with students when he visited Hiwali for a first-hand tour of the school last week, Bhuse was amazed by their enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge, and awestruck by the dexterity of some who could write with both hands. It was a testament to the power of perseverance and transformative impact of quality education. “The emphasis on speaking English, general knowledge, and arts, along with cultivation of organic vegetables by students, showcases an inclusive and expansive education model,” he said.
Hiwali’s educational transformation began in 2009 when the village, with limited access to basic amenities, had just nine students. The challenges were daunting as a significant portion of the village’s population had minimal exposure to education. Through persistent efforts, home visits, and a focus on improving basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills, a foundation was laid for a better future. “By 2014, the school began to flourish,” Gavit said. He said Bhuse spoke about presenting the school as a blueprint for educational excellence in the state.
