By Amanda A. Pakyntein
The Bible inscribes “Wisdom is better than strength – Wisdom is better than weapons of war” (Ecclesiastes 9:16 – Ecclesiastes 9:18). From these verses we are fully aware that we should always keep our minds loaded with wisdom and be at peace as we open our hearts to all those around us.
Every community desires that their people have access to education because it is a versatile remedy to dispel all evils. It is the antidote to counteract various problems of life that often throw us into a quandary. Each and every child deserves the right to education. No matter who and what their station of life is we should not clip their wings. Rather we should encourage them to follow their dreams. Education is largely the most important virtue and the principle right of each and every person. Since the time of inception in a mother’s womb, every child has equitable right to education.
A country without a robust education system cannot prosper. As responsible human beings and equal citizens we are obliged to provide free of cost quality education to all the children. Educating the society will build an army of skilled workers and also in lowering the rate of illiteracy; of school and college drop-outs and unemployment. It is with the quest to provide education to the poor and destitute and to school drop-outs that Seiñ Jaintia Morning School was started. Located at Qualapatty, abutting the busy Iewduh (Bara Bazaar) market in the heart of Shillong City, this school has served many who had earlier given up all hopes of every passing out of an educational institution because of stark poverty and other reasons.
Seiñ Jaintia Morning School offers free education to the aspiring drop-outs and those that have never seen the inside of a school. It admits drop-outs to offer them a second chance at living their dreams. The school opens its doors also to those who have been neglected and socially ostracised because of their addiction to substances. The students show a rare enthusiasm and if asked what they wanted to be some say they want to be doctors and engineers or computer wizards.
Surprisingly, adults who are in their late 20’s and elderly adults who are in their late 30’s, 40’s and 50’s too, show a keen desire to resume schooling to make up for the lost opportunities during their childhood and adolescence.
Dr Billiancy Lamare, the founder of Seiñ Jaintia Morning School, Shillong, introduced this free of cost school in the year 2008. She along with her teachers had a great compassion for the underprivileged children, dropouts and to all those who are trapped into an assortment of addictions who were out of school. Seiñ Jaintia Morning School, does not belittle any opportunity big or small that comes its way. The teachers welcome the students with a big heart and radiant smiles. They are compassionate and loving because they know that these kids need those above all. The teachers spend considerable time counselling the students and supporting them through their traumatic journeys. The Principal and teachers of Seiñ Jaintia Morning School, are akin to the farmers who start work at the break of day to plough the field, sow the seeds, water the plants, remove the weeds and add manure because one cannot sow seeds or reap a harvest if he keeps waiting for a conducive atmosphere.
Trying to bring back a struggling soul who has missed the opportunity to be in school is the best pedagogy we can think of. If we can afford to feed our bodies we should also spend some time nourishing the starving mind. Seiñ Jaintia Morning School, emerged out of a deep concern for the growing number of poor children who yearn to be at school but whose parents find the fees prohibitive and are unable to buy books or uniforms. Children too often resist attending school because of several reasons such as teachers lacking compassion and understanding for their learning defects. We are a judgmental society and are quick to label children. Instead, we should be giving hope and sow the seeds of curiosity in the minds of these children and allow them to learn at their own pace. It is the endeavour of Sein Jaintia Morning School to eliminate all learning barriers so children enjoy their schooling.
The teachers work as a team to give shape to the vision of the students. Critics may belittle the efforts of the school principal and teachers but despite the low expectations, Seiñ Jaintia Morning School, is a beacon of hope for the struggling learner. As teachers, our most important role is not just to impart learning and for the children to secure good grades in their exams, but to enthuse them to be good humans by instilling values and ethics in them. Teachers demonstrate how important environmental consciousness is by telling students that this living environment is the only precious heritage that we humans have inherited from Mother Earth. At Sein Jaintia we teach students to be compassionate towards birds, animals and all living creatures because GOD made this earth not only for human beings but for every living being.
There is something very different and noteworthy about the principal and teachers of Seiñ Jaintia Morning School. Over the years they have learned from experience that each child is unique and deserves their undivided attention which is a unique perspective. This unique phenomenon shows the teachers and principal’s dedication to the cause of education. They possess extraordinary flair for communication and teaching skills to illuminate their students and they utilize this ‘gift’ as a collective impact of the opportunity to make life better for themselves and those around them.
Every small action of the teachers is designed to improve themselves so as to bring a meaningful change in this world. The greatest contribution of the school may not be in something they do; but in someone they raise and educate. If any part of us cared about the weaker section and drop-out youths, we’d want them to be happy, not force them to love school the way we think it should be because common sense is not always how we grasp at the springs of life. Rather we should communicate with children in a way that empowers them and steers their minds towards positive thoughts. Teachers constantly counsel the children to seize every opportunity to improve their lives. As an honorary teacher of Seiñ Jaintia Morning School, one understands the journeys of these children and hence one tries to educate a struggling soul to discover that the world is still a compassionate place. This is what is visible in Seiñ Jaintia Morning School.
The combined personality of the principal and her gracious teachers have motivated them to accomplish desirable goals worthy of appreciation. The Government of Meghalaya and its Education Department ought to turn its attention to this school which has given many poor and destitute children an opportunity to be gainfully employed after passing out of the school. It is sad that the Government is still ignorant about Sein Jaintia Morning School.
(The writer is a Research Scholar at Mahatma Gandhi University, Meghalaya and a Teacher at Sein Jaintia Morning School, Shillong)