By Bhalakatha
Archana Nooguri, a dedicated teacher at the Mandal Parishad primary school in Rebbenapally, Mancherial, Telangana, has devoted over two decades to her passion for teaching. Teaching subjects such as Telugu, English, and Mathematics, Archana’s lifelong dream was to become a teacher.
“I became a government school teacher when I was 19. I didn’t even complete my graduation as I was eager to start teaching as soon as possible. I completed the teacher training program and passed its qualifying exam,” Archana shared.
On September 5, 2023, Archana received the prestigious National Teachers Award from President Droupadi Murmu at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. These awards, bestowed by the Ministry of Education, recognize exceptional school teachers across India who have made significant contributions to education and positively impacted the lives of their students. For Archana, this award was the culmination of years of hard work and unwavering dedication to her teaching profession.
Starting as a primary school class teacher in Telangana, Archana transformed a modest learning center with just a few students into a thriving hub of education and holistic growth, complete with various extracurricular activities.
Her inspiration for this transformative journey came from her family. She witnessed her grandfather, also a teacher, providing invaluable guidance and support to tribal students. “My grandfather used to teach many tribal students at our home, assisting them with their higher studies. I aspired to follow in his footsteps and help students,” Archana explained.
Rebbenapally, the location of her school, faced numerous challenges, including limited infrastructure, access to education, and healthcare. When Archana joined the school in November 2000, it had a mere 34 students. Being from the Mancherial district, she understood the issues faced by the locals and the reasons behind parents not sending their children to school. Her mission was clear: to use education as a powerful tool to ensure these students attended school regularly.
Archana embarked on a mission to bring these children to school by visiting tribal hamlets and engaging with parents. These parents, living in impoverished conditions with no proper housing or adequate clothing, were unaware of the school’s existence since none of their children were enrolled. Archana spent 15 days persuading them, emphasizing the importance of education and how it could improve their children’s lives.
She showed them videos of individuals who had come from similar backgrounds and had achieved success through education, encouraging these parents to provide their children with the same opportunities for progress.
Archana’s efforts yielded results as children began attending school. However, transportation became a significant challenge, as the school was located more than 5 km away with only a rough road leading to it. To address this issue, Archana personally arranged for an auto-rickshaw to pick up and drop off the students every day, covering the expenses herself. Through her dedication, the school’s student population grew to 275, with 103 of them being girls.
In addition to addressing transportation challenges, Archana worked on improving school infrastructure. She enlisted the support of a former student, Rajendra Prasad, who now resides abroad, as well as several NGOs, including the Bring a Smile Foundation and Padmavati Charitable Trust, along with local politicians.
With their assistance, Archana procured a borewell, a purified water plant, furniture, and, most notably, established a library stocked with 1000 books. Rajendra Prasad played a pivotal role in securing donations, including 40 benches from the Washington Telangana Association (WATA). A local MLA also contributed by installing a borewell and a reverse osmosis (RO) plant at the school.
Furthermore, Archana embraced technology to enhance the learning experience. She acquired five computers, two LED projectors, and two additional classrooms through the government’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiative, aimed at improving students’ ICT skills through computer-aided learning. As a result, her students became proficient in computer use.
Recognizing the importance of holistic development, especially for her female students, Archana arranged karate classes twice a week with a private instructor to teach self-defense. She believes that students should excel not only academically but also in extracurricular activities. Under her guidance, students participated and excelled in karate competitions at both the state and national levels, with one student earning admission to a sports school in Hyderabad.
Responding to parents’ requests, Archana introduced English as the medium of instruction in 2016. This decision made her school the first English-medium government primary school in the district. Parents believed that English was essential for their children’s success in a globalized world.
While the government provided two teachers, Archana hired four additional private teachers. She covered the salaries of two teachers herself with the assistance of NGOs and funded the remaining two out of her own pocket, along with expenses for transportation and extra classes. She personally contributed over Rs 20,000 to support these initiatives, recognizing the significance of education in shaping students’ futures.
Archana also mentored fellow teachers, encouraging them to adopt innovative teaching methods and stay updated on the latest educational advancements. She authored two papers in international journals in 2017 and 2018 based on her experiences as a teacher in Mancherial and published a book titled ‘Transforming India through the National Education Policy 2020.’
Continuing her own education, Archana is pursuing a PhD in the “Role of Education in the Socio-Cultural, Political, and Economic Development of Women” at Shridhar University, Pilani, Rajasthan. Her commitment to learning underscores her belief in the importance of continuous education to provide her students with the best possible guidance.
Archana’s father was overjoyed when she received the National Teachers Award. Her goal is for the parents of her students to experience the same sense of happiness and pride in their children. She tirelessly works toward this vision, firmly believing that education is the pathway to a brighter future for every student. As she aptly puts it, “Education is the only means to a better tomorrow.”
