RAICHUR: When most schools in rural areas lack modern teaching and learning tools, a teacher from the Government Higher Primary School at Kesaratti village in Lingasugur taluk of Raichur district has created Akshara Van, a unique learning space to impart holistic education to children. The novel initiative by Veeresh Teradal is now popular in Lingasugur, considered a backward taluk.
As part of the initiative, stone slabs with tenets of all religions and verses of saints and poets painted on them have been erected at Akshara Van on the school premises. Thoughts of well-known personalities and the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution have been painted on the walls of the school.
Akshara Van has 48 such slabs prepared with special care by Veeresh. His aim is to make learning fun and exciting, and to attract children from the poor and downtrodden families, who keep away from schools.
Kannada alphabets with pictures of animals, fruits and vegetables have been painted on the slabs to inspire young minds and help them learn fast. A few slabs have traffic signs and road safety norms to raise awareness among students. The initiative of extending learning beyond textbooks and teaching life lessons to students amid nature has been appreciated by the education department.
Important topics from textbooks have been painted on the inner and outer walls of the school. This is to ensure that the students remember the lessons taught in classrooms for a long time.
“I created Akshara Van to ensure that our students focus on academics as soon as they enter the school premises. Teachers, members of the school development and monitoring committee and parents have supported me in my efforts to create Akshara Van,” Veeresh told TNIE.
“Our teachers have brought fame and name to this government school,” SDMC president Hanumanta Marad said.