HYDERABAD: Most children fear mathematics. A primary schoolteacher, B Bhavani, decided to change that with one activity, one game and one YouTube video at a time. Her simple tricks, pictorial methods and activity-based learning have made tables, arithmetic and logical reasoning less intimidating for young learners at a government school that once had just 40 students.
For Bhavani, teaching has never been just about completing the syllabus or preparing children for examinations. It has meant staying invested in their lives — convincing parents to choose a government school, spending her own money on computers and learning music and dance during the Covid-19 pandemic to bring new activities to her students.
As Teachers’ Day approaches, Bhavani, a teacher at MPPS (Girls), Gandhari, in Kamareddy district, is an example of how individual commitment can transform a rural government school. Her efforts earned her the State Best Teacher Award 2025 and she has been also selected for the National Teachers’ Award 2026.
When Bhavani joined the school in 2018, it had just 40 students and two teachers. Infrastructure was poor, there was no pre-primary section, and many parents preferred private schools.
“I found three main reasons — lack of English-medium education, no pre-primary section and poor infrastructure. I decided to address these issues step by step,” Bhavani tells TNIE.
A pre-primary section was introduced in 2022 and infrastructure was gradually improved. The school now has additional classrooms, a library, computer facilities, toilets and digital learning resources. Enrolment has crossed 130 students, while community participation has also grown. A recent visit by the district collector resulted in additional teaching support being sanctioned.
But Bhavani’s approach goes beyond infrastructure. Her classroom uses stories, games, experiments, activities, project-based learning and low-cost teaching aids to make lessons more engaging.
Mathematics, in particular, became a subject she wanted children to approach without fear. Through her YouTube channel, she shares lessons, mathematical shortcuts, educational games, dance and yoga videos. Pictorial methods and activities are used to teach tables, arithmetic, mental ability and logical reasoning.
“I always try to teach children in a simple way. If they understand a concept through an activity or a game, they remember it better,” she says.
Her efforts also extend to holistic development. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she learnt Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam so she could introduce music and cultural activities to her students. Yoga, dance, sports, reasoning, competitive-exam preparation and value education are also part of her teaching.
For Bhavani, education is not limited to marks. She wants children to learn empathy, punctuality, respect for elders and the importance of helping those in need. She also conducts holiday classes in mental mathematics, logical thinking and reasoning.
Several of her former students have gone on to pursue higher education and careers in government services, the Army and sports. Some have also represented the country in volleyball.
Her commitment has also come at a personal cost. After receiving `10,000 as prize money with the State Best Teacher Award, Bhavani and her husband contributed another Rs 10,000 to buy a computer for the school and introduce computer education.