Vidya Amrit Mahotsav Chronicles: Tales of Innovative Pedagogy

Embark on the inspiring journey of Vidya Amrit Mahotsav (VAM) winners, a national celebration of innovative pedagogy in classrooms by teachers, school leaders and educators that sparked over 510,000 micro-improvements across 27 states & UTs in India! Ten winners have been recognised, nationally. In this series, we delve into their captivating stories.

Witness how these extraordinary educators have ensured that children receive an enriching learning experience in their classrooms and communities.

Tale 1 – Kolluri Venkata Naga Lakshmi Narasamba| Maths Teacher | Andhra Pradesh

In the shadow of our privileged lives, it’s easy to perceive child marriages as an old-fashioned practice that no longer exists. Yet in reality, this issue quietly thrives. Even when we encounter such practices, our response is often resigned: ‘What can we do about this?’

Fortunately, not everyone thinks that way. Lakshmi Narasamba not only considered it her duty to address this issue in her community but also did so with immense courage. In doing so, she transformed the lives of countless girls in her area.

Her story is a powerful reminder that small actions for improvement can bring about significant change and that a compassionate heart can have a profound impact on the lives of others.

Early Years in School

Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, she embarked on her teaching career in 1997 as a secondary-grade teacher in a village in East Godavari. In the community, child marriages were widespread, resulting in minimal enrolment for girls and hence impacting the overall women’s literacy rates in the region. In the school where Lakshmi worked, students could access education only up to Grade 7. For students desiring to pursue further studies, they had to travel a substantial distance to access Grade 8 in another school. Following completion of Grade 8, they again had to enrol at the nearest high school to pursue education from Grade 9 onwards. However, this arrangement presented a significant hurdle, especially for girls. Families often hesitated to send their daughters to these distant schools due to safety concerns and societal pressures, including the prevalent practice of child marriage.

Lakshmi recognised the urgent need of the girl students in the community. She reached out to district authorities, passionately advocating against child marriage and pushing for the expansion of her school to include Grade 8. Her proposal aimed to provide a solution where students could complete their education till Grade 8 locally, thereby eliminating the need to travel long distances for education. Her efforts were aimed at ensuring continuity in education for girls and boys as well, in turn breaking the cycle of early marriage and women’s illiteracy in the community.

Now, thanks to her efforts, both young girls and boys attend school instead of succumbing to early marriages. That is not all; when Lakshmi faced a shortage of staff for the newly introduced Grade 8, she took matters into her own hands, initiating a volunteer programme to manage the classes effectively.

Her impact was remarkable—school attendance soared from 200 to 280 students. Not stopping there, Lakshmi addressed the lack of infrastructure in the school, securing benches and separate washrooms for girls and boys by fundraising INR 30 lakhs. This allowed girls to attend school full day without the need to return home mid-day, ensuring a more comfortable and enriching learning experience.

Winning Innovative Pedagogy Practice

Lakshmi has always been an advocate of crafting low-cost teaching and learning materials from recycled materials like cardboard boxes and utilising locally available resources. Her classrooms are structured in a U shape to enable more space for the students and foster an environment conducive to interactive learning with her students.

Ms. Lakshmi utilising her innovative teaching methodologies in classrooms

Embracing simplicity, she relies on sketches, pens, papers, stones, leaves, and other materials to engage her economically challenged students. Her winning submission for the innovative teaching method is the use of marbles to teach additions and subtractions.

Her story, highlighting the continuous micro-improvements to enhance the learning experience for her students, stands as a testament to the profound impact a passionate teacher can wield. Sometimes, it also transcends societal barriers and illuminates the path for other educators.
Stay tuned to hear more inspiring stories of these exceptional Vidya Amrit Mahotsav winners and witness how they serve as an inspiration for everyone on this journey.

Meet the Author

Bhumika Anand

Dr. Bhumika is a dentist turned storyteller and advocate for social change. As an Associate Programs Communication at Shikshalokam, she fuses her passion for narrative with her drive to make a difference. With a focus on amplifying voices from the social sector, she strives to craft impactful stories that connect with diverse audiences and inspire positive action. Through her unconventional career path, she aims to shed light on overlooked perspectives and contribute to building a more equitable and empathetic society.