Srinagar Based Govt School Teacher Roohi Sultana Selected For National Teachers Award 2020

Roohi Sultana is a government school teacher in Srinagar, Kashmir who believes in using the ‘play-way method’ while teaching kids. Sometimes she even collects waste materials to create fun crafts with her students. Her innovative efforts have been finally acknowledged as Sultana has been selected for the National Award for Teachers 2020 by Ministry of Education, ANI reported. She will receive the award on September 5. This year, she has been selected along with 47 other educators who have been teaching using innovative methods in schools across the country.

Sultana believes in “low cost-no cost” method of teaching. Most of her students are from poor families of Bakarwal and Gujjar communities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sultana, who is from Nowshera area of Srinagar has a masters in Urdu and Kashmiri languages. Apart from this, she  also has a B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) and a degree in calligraphy. Sultana told ANI that she always wanted to be a teacher. She said "I feel happy when around my students as they inspire me.” She is currently posted at Government Primary School Danger Pora, Tailbal Srinagar, the Hindustan Times reported.

Roohi Sultana, a government school teacher from Srinagar, J&K, to be conferred with National Award for Teachers 2020 by Ministry of Education, on Sept 5. She says, "I am really happy to receive this award. I will continue to work towards the education of children." pic.twitter.com/DSO9K1tSTd

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2020

What You Should Know

• Roohi Sultana a government school teacher in Kashmir has been selected for National Teachers Award 2020.
• Sultana believes in teaching the kids in a fun and innovative way.
• She also provides online classes to students through All India Radio broadcasts in Srinagar.

Her innovative method

A 49-year-old Sultana collects waste materials such as plastic covers, sawdust and tea leaves from different shops and uses those materials to teach her kids. “Used plastic covers of wheat flour can be used to write for practice. I write nouns, and word-meaning on used bottles. I write words on toffee rappers and ask kids to arrange them. I also create shapes and letters from sawdust and dried tea leaves while using them as clay,” Sultana told ThePrint. “I feel no shame for asking leftover from the shopkeepers," she told The Real Kashmir News.

Sultana says, “I am connected with board of school education as a content creator for the subjects Urdu and Kashmiri. I work in Diksha as e-content creator and I also provide online classes to students through all India radio broadcast in Srinagar.”

Also Read: Weaving magic for transgender women: A unique initiative by a Kerala designer

“I do not force students to use a pencil or paper. Rather I made them do things practically. This way they did not get bored and motivate others to join the school,” she said.

Talking further about her teaching methods, she explained, “I use a play-way method to teach my students. I teach them with innovative methods so that students could have all concepts cleared while learning in the classroom.”

Suhail Bhat, Sultana’s husband reacted to the award saying, "It is not only a proud moment for the family but also for the teacher fraternity and Kashmir.”