“We’re surrounded by air pollution, and it’s as much as us to take motion and shield the environment earlier than it’s too late,” says 17-year-old Swastika Ghorai, a Class 11 pupil at Narayanpur Excessive College. Her phrases embody the outstanding transformation on the college, as soon as indifferent from organic considerations, however now a mannequin of sustainability.
Nestled within the lush East Kolkata Wetlands of Bhangar, Narayanpur Excessive College has turn into a beacon of environmental accountability, with a number of initiatives geared toward fostering ecological consciousness and sustainable practices amongst its college students.
On the forefront of this transformation is Avijit Dasgupta, the 48-year-old headmaster whose dedication to sensible, socially-conscious schooling has been the driving power behind the college’s shift. With a grasp’s diploma in English and an MPhil in Schooling, he combines tutorial experience with a way of objective. His intention just isn’t solely to revitalise the educational surroundings at Narayanpur Excessive College, but additionally to domesticate the idea of social accountability amongst his college students.
When Avijit assumed management in 2019, the college was caught within the conventional cycle of textbooks and exams, with little connection to the real-world challenges round them. College students have been unaware of the urgent social and environmental points that impacted their group.
For Avijit, schooling isn’t just about memorising details. “It’s about making ready college students for all times, serving to them perceive the world round them, and equipping them with the data to make a distinction,” he tells The Higher India.
“I need my college students to be extra than simply passive learners,” he says. “They should perceive the world, interact with its challenges, and achieve the experience to deal with them.”
Recognising the gravity of native points like baby trafficking, early marriages, and drug abuse, Avijit knew his college students needed to be ready to confront these realities. He envisioned a curriculum that prolonged past conventional tutorial studying to concentrate on sensible issues, particularly these impacting their very own group.
Shifting schooling from textbooks to motion
Narayanpur Excessive College’s journey in the direction of sustainability started with initiatives geared toward making conservation-related schooling extra impactful. One of many college’s earliest initiatives was partnering with Youngsters for Tigers, a programme centered on the conservation of the Sundarbans, situated simply 70 km from the college.
Via this partnership, college students have been launched to the area’s wealthy biodiversity, with a specific emphasis on the endangered Bengal tiger. “This initiative supplied college students with a considerable, firsthand understanding of the ecological challenges that encompass them, instilling a way of urgency and accountability in the direction of defending their native and world ecosystems,” says Avijit.
The varsity additionally joined the Namami Gange Programme, a nationwide initiative centered on cleansing and conserving the Ganges River. Avijit views this as a necessary a part of fostering environmental accountability amongst his college students. “Educating them in regards to the Ganges is educating them about their very own accountability to the surroundings,” he explains. “College students are planning to have interaction with individuals who dwell alongside the ghats, and educate them on the affect of river air pollution.”
As well as, the college partnered with ‘Disappearing Dialogues’, a gaggle centered on sensible sustainable schooling. This collaboration allowed the scholars to participate in experiential initiatives associated to water conservation, waste administration, and biodiversity preservation.
“As an example, they realized about water utilization patterns and devised methods to cut back consumption inside the college. These initiatives inspired college students to witness how their actions might make a tangible affect on the surroundings,” Avijit explains.
Working in the direction of a plastic-free college
Some of the notable outcomes of those initiatives was the college’s push towards turning into a plastic-free zone. “Once I joined as a headmaster, college students have been careless with plastic,” says Avijit. “However now, they know higher. They perceive the affect of their actions on the surroundings.”
Although the college has reached about 70% of its objective to remove plastic waste, the achievement was a significant milestone, contemplating the resistance and lack of understanding that existed when the initiative started.
“I was careless with plastic, however now I ensure it goes into the dustbin. I’ve additionally began educating my household and associates to do the identical. It’s about altering habits, one step at a time,” Anjali Das, a Class 11 pupil, says.
In 2023, Narayanpur Excessive College obtained the WIPRO Earthian Award for its excellent contributions to environmental schooling. This recognition bolstered the college’s repute and ignited larger enthusiasm amongst college students. The award not solely affirmed the success of the college’s initiatives but additionally opened the door to extra partnerships with native and nationwide organisations.
Avijit proudly states, “We’ve turned all the college right into a dwelling lab.” College students now participate in actions like naming and cataloguing timber, which permits them to have interaction with nature in significant methods.
Riya Ghosh, a Class 11 pupil, shares, “Via the varied programmes, I’ve learnt that chopping down timber just isn’t an possibility. I’ve seen these vegetation and animals in actual life, and now I wish to present future generations how vital they’re.”
“We additionally encourage our college students to take part in pottery making, the place they craft gadgets from waste supplies that may be offered available in the market. Via this, we’re serving to them perceive that schooling can generate employment alternatives,” says Avijit.
He explains, “We maintain waste administration workshops to equip college students with sensible expertise.” Consequently, college students have begun actively segregating waste into three separate bins within the college.
From considerations to accolades
Regardless of the progress, the reformation didn’t come with out challenges. Initially, many guardians have been skeptical of the emphasis on environmental schooling, fearing it could detract from conventional tutorial studying.
“Initially, the guardians weren’t very supportive once they noticed their kids taking part in cleansing actions,” Avijit recollects. “They have been frightened that environmental initiatives would disrupt common tutorial progress.” However Avijit remained steadfast in his imaginative and prescient.
He recognised that participating college students with sensible, community-focused points would empower them in methods conventional textbooks couldn’t. “Textbook studying is one-dimensional,” he opines.
Over time, as college students started to indicate the actual affect of their efforts, the group’s perspective started to shift. “Now, guardians aren’t simply supportive, they’re actively concerned,” says Avijit. What started as a cautious response reworked into wholehearted participation.
The varsity’s environmental initiatives have garnered important recognition. In 2024, Narayanpur Excessive College was awarded the Swachhta Hero 2024: Guardians of Our Rivers award for its contributions to environmental conservation. This prestigious honour, together with the WIPRO Earthian 2023 award, bolstered the significance of the college’s environmental efforts and inspired college students to proceed advocating for change.
It’s not nearly studying details in textbooks anymore
Trying forward, Avijit has bold plans for the long run. He envisions creating an exhibition to showcase the college’s waste administration initiatives, the place merchandise comprised of recycled supplies will likely be offered. This undertaking is not going to solely increase funds for the college’s growth but additionally exhibit to college students how sustainability can result in financial development.
“I additionally plan to develop the college’s environmental programmes by involving native colleges and NGOs in workshops on waste administration and water conservation,” he provides.
Avijit’s management is impressed by his father, a devoted educator who believed that schooling ought to make the world a greater place. “That’s the legacy I wish to proceed, educating college students not solely to achieve life, however to make a optimistic affect on the world.”
Via his efforts, Narayanpur Excessive College has turn into a mannequin of how schooling can drive social and environmental change. The ripple impact of those efforts is seen in the neighborhood, the place college students, mother and father, and native organisations collaborate to construct a sustainable future.
As Avijit Dasgupta aptly places it, “It’s not nearly studying details in textbooks anymore; it’s about taking motion.”
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All photographs courtesy Avijit Dasgupta
