{"id":29553,"date":"2025-05-09T04:36:22","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T04:36:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/?p=29553"},"modified":"2026-01-14T11:04:59","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T11:04:59","slug":"this-indore-leader-revives-a-rural-school-with-800-students-learning-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/this-indore-leader-revives-a-rural-school-with-800-students-learning-today\/","title":{"rendered":"This Indore Leader Revives a Rural School with 800 Students Learning Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pappu Prajapati, Sri L K Prajapati Public School, Indore<\/strong><\/p>\n

In many rural parts of India, getting a quality education is not just about going to school – it\u2019s a daily battle. Children often have to walk long distances or take different forms of transport just to reach a classroom<\/a>. And even after they arrive, the learning environment is far from ideal. Many trained teachers are doing their best but often have to manage entire classrooms in poorly ventilated buildings with limited seating and resources. Over time, many children lose interest – or are forced to drop out midway to support their families.<\/p>\n

But in a remote village near Indore, one man decided that this cycle needed to break. \u201cWhen I saw these children giving up their dreams because of things they couldn\u2019t control, it broke my heart,\u201d says Pappu Prajapati.<\/p>\n

He saw that rural education needed more than just books and teachers<\/a>. It needed someone who could solve the deeper problems – poor mindset, lack of hope, and a system that left rural kids behind. \u201cMost people try to improve<\/em> rural education by providing meals or giving free books,\u201d he says. \u201cBut what these children need first is someone who believes they matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew that if I could change how the community viewed education, the children would start believing in themselves too,\u201d he shares.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prajapati\u2019s mission wasn\u2019t to impress anyone. It came from a genuine desire to lift his community – not just through education, but by opening doors to a better life. This is where Prajapati stepped into rural Indore – making rural education his mission, not to please the community, but to help it grow, thrive, and move forward with the modern world.<\/p>\n

Also Read:<\/strong> From Aspirant to Educator: A School Leader\u2019s Mission to Transform Rural Education in Agra<\/a><\/p>\n

Early Influence that Sparked the Idea<\/h2>\n

Coming from a rural background, Prajapati always knew what limited access to education felt like. But instead of letting that limit him, he turned it into his purpose.<\/p>\n

He began his journey in a government school in Indore, where resources were few but dreams ran deep. After completing his basic education, he joined Holkar Science College. Even while studying in Class 12, he found himself drawn to teaching. \u201cEvery evening, I would sit with children from nearby areas to help them study,\u201d he recalls. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t just teaching for me – it made my own learning stronger and gave me a deep sense of purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n

This early habit of helping others slowly became his passion. He was more than just a student by the time he graduated in 2003; he was eager to improve education for others. But the turning point came when he started teaching professionally. As a government school teacher, he didn\u2019t just see students – he saw stories. Many were first-generation learners, struggling to keep up, often feeling lost.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat bothered me the most was that these children had immense potential and only needed some mentoring to improve their skills<\/a>. But due to their difficult circumstances, they lacked the will and confidence to move forward, and felt their future was bleak – that this was the end of the road,\u201d he shares.<\/p>\n

In 2009, moved by this reality, he took a bold step. He founded the Academy L.K. Prajapati – a school that focused not only on affordable education but also on building confidence among rural students.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea wasn\u2019t just to start another school,\u201d he says. \u201cIt was to create a space where rural children feel they belong, where learning feels possible – even for those left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CTA\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Growth Over the Years<\/h2>\n

The school began in 2009 with just 40-50 students. Prajapati recalls how four staff members stepped forward to help, not for pay, but for purpose. \u201cThey visited every home in the area, spoke to parents, and convinced them that this school could change their child\u2019s future,\u201d he shares.<\/p>\n

Their honest efforts worked. By year-end, enrollment grew to 150. It was a turning point.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had no ads, no money – just perseverance and hard work,\u201d he says. \u201cThe community started trusting us, and that meant everything.\u201d The growth never stopped. By 2025, the main branch had over 300 students. With a second branch running, total strength touched nearly 800. \u201cIt\u2019s no longer just a school,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s a shared dream that\u2019s growing stronger each year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also Read: <\/strong> From 8 Students to 1000: A Father\u2019s Legacy Lives On in This Rural School in Mysuru<\/a><\/p>\n

Digital Learning, Social Change<\/h2>\n

The school saw a major milestone when it brought in digital learning<\/a>. \u201cThe moment we introduced tablets and digital tools in our classrooms, more parents started coming in. They felt we were offering the kind of education that city schools do,\u201d shares Prajapati. For him, this wasn\u2019t just about technology – it was about helping rural students keep pace, so they wouldn\u2019t struggle later when they move to bigger cities for higher education.<\/p>\n

But none of the school\u2019s enrollment growth would\u2019ve been possible without the people around him. The local community stood by the school and helped it grow. \u201cMost parents here work long hours. Knowing their children are getting a good education without putting a huge burden on their pockets gave them relief,\u201d he says. He even made sure that orphans and children from extremely poor families could study without paying any fees – a quiet but powerful part of his promise to serve.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a parent tells me, \u2018Sir, ab mere bacche ko padhne ka mann karta hai,\u2019 that one sentence gives me all the motivation I need,\u201d he says, his eyes lighting up with emotion.<\/p>\n

Upskilling the Teachers<\/h2>\n

To make sure each student gets the right attention, the school runs in two shifts and brings in teachers who are already trained. But the learning doesn\u2019t stop there. “We don\u2019t believe in just hiring and moving on,” says Prajapati. “Every year, we hold five to six training sessions so our teachers can grow, try better teaching methods, and use digital tools in ways that really help inside the classroom.”<\/p>\n

The school avoids the idea that one method works for all. Teaching<\/a> styles are reviewed regularly to see what\u2019s actually helping students. “At the end of every academic year, we sit together and ask ourselves – what worked, what didn\u2019t, and what we need to change to make it easier for our students to learn,” he explains.<\/p>\n

“When teachers grow, children grow with them. That\u2019s why we put time and effort into helping our teachers first,” he affirms<\/p>\n

Extracurricular Excellence<\/h2>\n

The school believes in supporting students more than just academics. Along with studies, they are encouraged to join science fairs, sports, and cultural events. \u201cMany of our students have received awards at district-level competitions. It has helped build the school\u2019s name and given students a sense of belief in themselves,\u201d says Prajapati.<\/p>\n

Over time, this has helped students face real-life situations better. \u201cSome of them have gone on to become doctors, engineers, and civil servants. We believe these early experiences help them deal with failure, people, and pressure in their careers later,\u201d he shares.<\/p>\n

Infrastructural Growth with Varthana<\/h2>\n

As more students began enrolling, Prajapati realised the school urgently needed better infrastructure. But expansion meant big financial support – something hard to manage alone. \u201cIn 2016, I reached out to Varthana for a loan. We used it to build a new school building and improve classrooms, so our students could learn in a more comfortable and focused space,\u201d he shares.<\/p>\n

This step helped the school grow steadily, but it wasn\u2019t the end of the journey. With new admissions and rising expectations, further development became necessary. \u201cBy 2024, it was clear we had to expand again. I went back to Varthana for another loan of \u20b915 lakh. I trusted them because they had supported us once before, and their process was simple and fast,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you don\u2019t have to stress about funding, you can put your full energy into building something meaningful for children,\u201d he adds, reflecting on the partnership.<\/p>\n

Future Goals<\/h2>\n

Prajapati’s immediate goal is to drive student enrollment by 200 over the next year while enhancing school facilities. However, his ambitions exceed numbers. “My long-term ambition is to create a large, fully developed school with modern amenities at an affordable fee. No child should be denied rural education due to financial reasons,” he said, fully representing his resolve.<\/p>\n

With the community’s continued support, he believes L K Prajapati Public School can continue to grow and excel. “We’re building a foundation together, which will last for generations to come,” he says, with the hope that the future ahead will be bright.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pappu Prajapati, Sri L K Prajapati Public School, Indore In many rural parts of India, getting a quality education is not just about going to school – it\u2019s a daily battle. Children often have to walk long distances or take different forms of transport just to reach a classroom. And even after they arrive, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":29555,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-customer-stories"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29553","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29553"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29553\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35073,"href":"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29553\/revisions\/35073"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29553"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/varthana.com\/school\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}