Turning a Failing School Around

Who He Is

Shyamdev Yadav is the Principal of Edla Middle School (EMS), located in one of the remotest villages — Edla in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. He grew up in the same village where he now leads the school. His journey from being a student of Edla Middle School to becoming its Principal reflects his lifelong bond with education and community. 

Shyamdev’s drive stems from his belief that every child deserves equal opportunity to learn. Having grown up in a marginalised community, he knows the power of education to transform lives. He wants his students to dream beyond their circumstances and to see school as a pathway to dignity and progress. 

During his Bachelor of Education studies, his passion for teaching deepened when he discovered how learning methods could shape young minds. A teacher named Mr Tiwari also deeply influenced him — his empathy and ability to connect with his students taught Shyamdev that good teaching begins with understanding children, their backgrounds and their families. 

He became Principal in 2016. On his very first day, he set a clear goal: to make his school one of the best in the district. School and children are his life. Even beyond working hours, he enjoys spending time with students, promoting sports, and encouraging creative activities that build confidence. As Principal, he leads by example — hands-on, consistent, and deeply invested in every aspect of student life.

The Problem He Saw

When Shyamdev took charge, EMS was in poor condition. The building had no boundary wall, classrooms were unkempt, and the school grounds were often littered with cow dung. Attendance was low — only about 65 of 145 students attended regularly. Many classrooms remained empty. 

Most parents, mostly daily wage labourers, were indifferent to schooling because they had little or no formal education themselves. Their priority was daily survival, not long-term learning.

The Micro-Improvement Journey

He realised that without community trust, no academic effort would last. To rebuild that trust, Shyamdev started by directly engaging with the community, improving infrastructure, and enhancing teaching and learning practices. 

• Connecting with the community: Shyamdev & team began door-to-door visits, explaining the value of education. They surveyed nearby villages and identified nearly 200 out-of-school children.
• Parent Teacher Meetings: He introduced parent-teacher meetings — an uncommon practice at that time. On Sundays, he organised community gatherings to discuss the importance of schooling and children’s future readiness. These sessions were self-funded.
• Sports as an entry point: He then focused on engaging children, dedicating the first few lessons to games like Kabaddi and Pitthu (Seven Stones). This drew students to school, making it easier to integrate academics later. Over time, other sports were introduced through the Khelo Jharkhand sports events, where students earned recognition.
• Residential facilities: To support working parents, Shyamdev collaborated with the education department to convert the school into a residential one. Two upper classrooms were transformed into dormitories.
• Skill-based learning: He introduced skill courses like sewing and beautician training for older students. He also established a small plant nursery to nurture a love for nature and facilitate hands-on learning.

Role of Civil Society & Support Systems

Shyamdev proactively reached out to NGOs and corporate CSR programmes for support. With assistance from ONGC, and NGOs such as Thanal and Sampark, the school set up four smart classrooms and well-equipped science and computer laboratories. Students now confidently operate the equipment themselves. 

The collaboration also brought Breakthrough’s life skills programme, which helped students become more confident and expressive. It also enabled open discussions on menstruation, improving girls’ comfort and attendance. These partnerships strengthened the school’s foundation for inclusive learning.

Impact His Work Is Creating

Within a year, enrolment has quadrupled, and daily attendance remained high. The number of students at EMS has grown from 145 to over 600. The once-neglected school now has clean classrooms, vibrant learning spaces and functional science and computer labs. The school has become a source of pride for the community.  Parents who once ignored education now take active interest in their children’s learning. One of Shyamdev’s students, Sandeep Kumar Bhuyian, the son of a daily wage earner at a brick kiln, is now pursuing post-graduation studies. He is the first in his family to do so. 

Child labour was once prevalent in the community, and Sandeep too might have been lost to it, had Shyamdev not personally convinced his reluctant parents to send him to school.

Today, EMS students outperform their private school peers in academics and sports. Some of them are today studying at Navodaya Vidyalaya and Netarhat Residential School. The transformation has inspired nearby schools to adopt similar practices.

His Words

“Koshish karney walo ki kabhi haar nahi hoti (Those who keep trying never loose). For me, the greatest reward is seeing my students succeed. From next year, Edla Middle School will be upgraded to a high school and my next goal is to make it an Adarsh Vidyalaya – a model of quality and inclusion.”

This story is part of ‘Small Steps to Build Great Schools’ Vol II– a Coffee-table Book celebrating the leaders who go beyond their roles to make education inclusive, joyful, and rooted in belonging, for children in India.

🔗 Read more such stories of transformation here: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/d4afa18256.html