Ashok Kumar Sinha, Manika Mata Convent Higher Secondary School, Chhattisgarh
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all,” – Aristotle. Believing in this ideology, Ashok started a school in his locality to educate the students and uplift society. But that is not where it all began. In fact, initially, Ashok wanted to become a lawyer, and he did some practice at the High Court for 18 days. However, he soon realized that the law didn’t match his values. “I felt earning money in law could sometimes harm others, and I wasn’t comfortable with that,” he shares.
Through determination and proper planning, Ashok opened Manika Mata Convent Higher Secondary School in 2002 with his friend’s support. Thanks to his dedication to providing affordable quality education, the school has enrolled more than 500 students.
Looking Back
Ashok’s life shows how strongly he believes in the power of education. He went for M.A., LLB, and B.Ed. degrees once had a vision to become a career lawyer but finally selected a cause in education. Today, he leads Manika Mata Convent Higher Secondary School, bringing quality education to rural Chhattisgarh and inspiring many young minds.
Ashok strongly believes in the importance of private education, especially in rural areas. “Private schools are key to providing quality education,” he says.
He feels that without private schools, the standard of education would drop greatly. He further intends to expand the school and open a B.Ed. and D.Ed. college to provide better training to teachers in the region.
However, a private school initiated in a rural area came with many challenges. The early years were tough due to financial struggles. “Private schools in rural areas face a lot of money problems,” Ashok shares.
Present Situation of the School
With the community’s support and Ashok’s hard work, the school gained popularity in the locality, boosting enrollment every academic year. “We started in a government building, but now we have our own school. It feels like an achievement, though there’s still more to do,” he says proudly.
Acknowledging the support he received from Varthana during his financial struggles he shared, “They gave us financial help when we needed it most, helping us improve our infrastructure,”
This support has helped the school continue its mission of offering affordable education to the community.
Looking forward, he shares that the school has a clear vision for the future. This includes improving education, he dreams of opening a B.Ed. and D.Ed. college to train teachers locally. “Right now, we travel 40 to 50 kilometers to reach the nearest education college. I want to bring this opportunity closer, so even students from disadvantaged backgrounds can become teachers,” he says.
Conclusion
Ashok concluded the interview by saying “Varthana has played a key role in the school’s growth”. As he is envisioning to expand his school to college, Ashok hopes that his relationship with Varthana will help him achieve this dream.
This story shows the power of education to transform communities. His journey from law to education reflects his dedication to making a difference, shaping countless young lives in Chhattisgarh.
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