Against all odds: The Pune teacher who travels 45 km to teach a single student

Dhawale travels about 40 kms on her scooter from Pune outskirts, where she stays with husband and two kids, to teach the only student. Although there are 60 homes at Atalwadi only about 10 are occupied as most families have migratrd to Pune in search of work. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre)

The Atalwadi school is among 21 of 3,638 primary schools in Pune district with a single student and single teacher. Most of these 21 schools are located in the district’s hilly talukas. Residents blame the lack of students on locals migrating to cities due to non-existent employment opportunities in these areas.

“Though Atalwadi has nearly 40 houses, only 15 are occupied. Most families have shifted to Pirangut or Pune and only visit Atalwadi on festivals or for family functions,” said Siya’s grandfather Arjun Shelar, 73.

Six-year-old Siya is the only child in the settlement in the 6-9 age group. Her elder sister Rasika, a Class 6 student, walks to Andgaon, a few kilometres from Atalwadi. Like Siya, Rasika was the only student at the Atalwadi school when she was in Classes 3 and 4. Their younger brother Samarth is just 3-year-old.

The Atalwadi school is among 21 of 3,638 primary schools in Pune district with a single student and single teacher. Most of these 21 schools are located in the district’s hilly talukas.

Though he accompanies Siya to school at times, Dhawale doesn’t mind his presence in class. “It’s good for Siya to have some company. Samarth also learns a few things in the process. Since there is no anganwadi in the village, she did not have any elementary education when she started here. She was so shy that she didn’t speak at all for the first eight days. Her mother accompanied her till she grew comfortable with me,” the teacher said.

Siya’s mother Sarika added, “Siya seems to be doing well in school. She likes going to school. On days when school is closed, she asks, ‘Madam yenar naahi ka? (Is madam not coming today)’.”

Six-year-old Siya is the only child in the settlement in the 6-9 age group. Her elder sister Rasika, a Class 6 student, walks to Andgaon, a few kilometres from Atalwadi. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre)

Dhawale, who has been teaching for 17 years, joined the Pune Zilla Parishad as shikshan sevak in 2006. Before Atalwadi, she taught at Zilla Parishad schools in Bhode and Bharekar Wadi. “I was transferred here after the previous teacher retired. This is my first stint at a single-teacher school, and that too with just one student,” she said.

Siya’s mother Sarika says, “Siya seems to be doing well in school. She likes going to school. On days when school is closed, she asks, ‘Madam yenar naahi ka? (Is madam not coming today)’. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre)

However, managing a single-teacher school is no cakewalk. “If I had peers, I could have planned teaching and administrative work with them. Now, each time I have outstation meetings, the school has to stay closed. Even cleaning the classroom is my responsibility. Passing the time on a regular day is a challenge too. When there are more students in a class, the day passes by quickly. Siya gets bored if I keep teaching her constantly,” said Dhawale.

The other challenges she faces include spotty Internet connectivity in the village, no electricity in the school since power was disconnected over non-payment of bills a few months ago and abundance of weeds in the playground. “Siya’s grandfather promised to get some locals to help me remove the weeds after sowing season,” she said.

Dhawale, who has been teaching for 17 years, joined the Pune Zilla Parishad as shikshan sevak in 2006. Before Atalwadi, she taught at Zilla Parishad schools in Bhode and Bharekar Wadi. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre)

Even the 45-km ride to school from home can be full of obstacles. “It takes me nearly an hour and half to get to school from home. When I get a flat tire or my scooter breaks down, I end up dragging it to the nearest mechanic. If I fail to find one, I park my scooter at a safe spot and take a lift,” Dhawale said.

She added that she struggles with family responsibilities too. “My husband (a teacher at a Zilla Parishad school in Pune) and I leave for work around 9 am. Our 12-year-old daughter (a Class 7 student) leaves for school around the same time. I drop my 5-year-old son off at daycare on my way to Atalwadi. When my daughter returns from school at 2 pm, she picks him up from daycare. They stay alone till we return home around 6.30 pm. I usually have no mobile network in school, so I keep worrying that they won’t be able to contact me in case of an emergency,” said Dhawale.

However, managing a single-teacher school is no cakewalk. “If I had peers, I could have planned teaching and administrative work with them. Now, each time I have outstation meetings, the school has to stay closed. Even cleaning the classroom is my responsibility,” Dhawale says. (Express Photo By Pavan Khengre)

What does she think of a cluster school, like the one in Velha tehsil’s Panshet? She said, “It’s a boon for children like Siya. If school buses pick them up, then children like Siya will be able to study with other kids and with better resources. Students learn some things by observing their peers. Here, she has to learn everything from me. Besides, activities like group songs, poems, etc., can’t be done with a single student.”

Still, Dhawale doesn’t seem fazed by all these challenges. As she put on her helmet and jacket, ready to zip back home around 4.45 pm, Dhawale said, “The most important thing is education for Siya. She won’t be able to go to school in Andgaon on her own and will probably end up staying at home.”