Villupuram (Tamil Nadu): Lockdown stopped the regular Academic classes in between a running semester (Jan-May), which led to rethinking and re-planning of courses from offline to online. Teachers had no clarity on what tools and technologies to use. Nevertheless, the situation appeared as awful for everyone.
The lockdown imposed due to the Corona pandemic has been extending beyond three months and parents are worried a lot about the education of their children. Even if the schools reopen, they are apprehensive about whether the students would be able to pick up the syllabus from where they have left.
Despite the extended lockdown during which schools remain closed, NK Hemalatha, a teacher at a Government High School in the interior of Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu has made an innovative effort to engage the students. NK Hemalatha is working at Government High School in S. Kunnathur village.
The lockdown is no deterrent to her strenuous efforts to prepare the various type of educational aids to help the children keep pace with their studies.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Hemalatha said, "The extended curfew and restriction on travel has forced many to be confined to their homes and there is no exception. I am keeping myself engaged in preparing different varieties of teaching material as well as learning kits for my students."
With an insatiable desire to make teaching innovative and attractive for the students, she had made use of the lockdown period in a more productive way. She has made butterflies, hearts, toys, portraits of national leaders made of waste paper, CDs, wedding cards.
"For me it a teaching tool and learning tool for my students. But I can handle this same material in two ways. On one hand it is for teaching the subject on the other hand, it is life oriented education. Not all children are equal and some will be slow learners but gifted with extra curricular activities," Hemalatha said.
She has also pictorially depicted the five-fold landscape of ancient Tamil grammar, describing the people and their life. Her collections include miniature, oil press, spades, ploughs, and other agricultural implements. Portraits of the builders of modern India, including poets, with their date of birth, are waiting to adorn the classrooms. Also, she is encouraging students to collect coins and currencies of various countries.
"By the time, we catch up they move to next classes. These kind of learning tools bridge that gap because these slow learning children also equally participate in making these tools. It also strengthens the bond between the children and me," she said.
"These teaching aids will help my students to reconnect with what they have learned earlier when they will step into the school again. I am so happy after getting the encouragement from the District Collector A Annadurai and Chief Educational Officer Munusamy," Hemalatha added.
Notably, Hemalatha has been honoured with the best teacher and "innovative teacher" award in 2004 and 2005 respectively from Tamil Nadu education minister KA Sengottaiyan.
ALSO READ: Covid-19 fight: Pregnant SDM Sumitra Pareek fights all odd, helps people in Rajasthan
