Ri Bhoi school gives green lessons to students

SHILLONG: Risoh English School located at Rtiang, Mawhati Road in Ri Bhoi, is shaping up lives of students not only academically but also inculcating in them the spirit of environmental sustainability.
“They are taught about the importance of nature and plants as part of their curriculum,” said the proprietor of the school, DD Laloo, while pointing a garden inside the school campus.
So it is not surprising that even primary section students can talk about germination.
There are nearly 80 students in the school that started in 2005 and is up to standard five. The classrooms are spacious with all amenities and designated teachers.
The head teacher, Lawansukshisha Lyngdoh, who joined the school in 2013, said the environmental education is part of the students’ science practical. There are seven teachers with two helpers.
The school is curving out a niche by providing quality education to the village children. Hilarious Pohti, who teaches English in the school, said they are following a mixed curriculum to provide the best education.
The school, which runs from 9.30 am to 2.30 pm, is attached with hygienic toilets, separate for both boys and girls. Laloo said the toilets have tiles generously provided by Vikash Enterprises, a Shillong-based trader. The school, however, has the capacity to intake more students. The head teacher said they are facing challenges in this regard since the villagers prefer to send their wards to government schools, which are up to Class X and those passing out of this school ultimately takes admission in government schools.
The school, however, has the space to upgrade up to Class X. Laloo said that he is planning to add a computer centre for technical education in the school.
To a query about any difficulties they may be facing while imparting education, the head teacher observed that the blackboards inside the classroom need to be replaced with whiteboards and markers since they are dusty and harmful. Secondly, the teachers, including the head teacher, are presently sharing a single common room and there should be a separate chamber for the head teacher. The separate chamber can also be partitioned in the existing common room, she felt. Besides, the front yard of the school needs to be cemented since during monsoon the accumulated rainwater and mud is not only posing inconveniences to students but is also dirtying the classrooms.
To a query, the proprietor of the school said he is not averse to the idea of starting midday meal.