A teacher at the Zilla Parishad Primary School in Pulachiwadi
Mr. Wagh, a teacher at the Zilla Parishad Primary School in Pulachiwadi village shared his experience after a new interactive smart board was installed in their school:
“I am Mr. Wagh, and I teach at the Zilla Parishad Primary School in Pulachiwadi, a small and beautiful village near the Vaitarna Dam in the Sahyadri hills, about 35 km from Nashik. Around 75 families live here—simple, close-knit, and full of hope for their children.
Our school teaches Grades 1 to 4. Earlier, teaching was completely traditional—chalk and board, rote learning, and memorization. Students were not excited about learning, and regular attendance stayed around 34 children.
Everything changed when Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), in partnership with Mankind Pharma, helped set up a digital classroom and installed an interactive smart board. Teachers like me were trained to use digital tools so we could make learning more engaging.
Today, the classroom feels alive.
In maths, children come up to the smart board to solve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. They enjoy it so much that they save their work digitally and ask to try more examples.
In language class, they read stories aloud and correct their pronunciation using audio lessons. Geography has become a favourite—children use Google Maps to find talukas, states, rivers, and mountain ranges. They traced the journey of the Vaitarna River from Trimbakeshwar all the way to the sea. One child even mapped the Sahyadri ranges and explored rivers flowing in different directions, measuring distances right on the screen. Their curiosity surprises us every day!
Attendance has now increased from 34 to 50 students.
We also select two “study leaders” from each grade. These students help conduct small activities while I guide them. Learning has become collaborative, joyful, and student-led.
To improve the environment, SSP also supported us with a handwash station, a welcoming entrance gate, and glass-framed display boards. The school looks clean, bright, and inspiring.
This transformation helped us win the ‘Mukhyamantri Sundar Shala’ award and a prize of ₹3 lakh from the Government of Maharashtra.
One proud parent told me, ‘Our children are getting city-level education right here in our village. Their confidence has grown so much!’
A student excitedly said, ‘Sir, we explore rivers, states, and mountains on Google Maps. We even create our own maps—it’s so much fun!’
Today, Pulachiwadi School is more than a school—it has become a centre of technology, creativity, and innovation. Teachers from five neighbouring schools have already visited us to learn from our digital model. This change is not just about installing a smart board; it’s a complete shift in mindset, confidence, and community aspiration.
As a teacher, I feel proud that our small school is now known as Digital Pulachiwadi.”
About the ProjectSwayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP), in collaboration with Mankind Pharma, is leading a women-led holistic development initiative across 10 villages in Trimbakeshwar block under the 3-year PROSPER Project. SSP’s work spans six key areas: clean energy, digital access, water security, quality education, health, and resilient livelihoods. Sustainability and local leadership remain at the heart of this model.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog
25 November, 2025