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Shweta Sharma
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Education · Jharkhand

The teacher who kept a school open

Shweta Sharma's first school in rural Jharkhand was close to shutting down. Two years of joyful, play-based teaching later, more children were coming, and keeping them in school became the thread running through her work.

Shweta Sharmaश्वेता शर्मा
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Shweta Sharma with her teaching materials. Photo: Dainik Jagran

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School
Govt M.S. Vivekanand, Deoghar
State
Jharkhand
Experience
20+ years of teaching
Honour
National Teachers' Award 2025
20+years of teaching
2years to raise enrolment at a school near closure
2025National Teachers' Award

A school on the edge

Shweta Sharma’s story is most interesting at its beginning. According to her official National Teachers’ Award citation, she started her career at a rural school with very few students, close to being shut down. By building a welcoming, activity-based classroom and earning the trust of parents and children, she raised enrolment within two years.

That is the most important measurable part of her work. The first result of her teaching was not technology or a prize. It was children staying in school.

Learning through play

Her teaching puts weight on play-way methods, activities, and the foundations of reading, writing and numbers. She has also contributed to state-level education initiatives and to developing textbooks and teaching-learning material.

Abua Jadui Pitara

Her “Abua Jadui Pitara” (“our magic box”) is a local, toy-based learning kit that connects classroom lessons to Jharkhand’s tribal and cultural imagery and to children’s own surroundings. Local reports mention Sohrai art, images of Baidyanathdham and traditional musical instruments among its elements. It is a good example of turning national curriculum ideas into something that makes sense to a child in Deoghar.

The Copy Exchange Program

During COVID she co-founded a peer-to-peer “Copy Exchange Program”, in which children shared their notes and helped one another keep learning. The official citation links it to keeping students’ learning going when classrooms were closed.

Recognition

The official record notes more than 20 years of teaching and the National Teachers’ Award in 2025. Independent reports describe her as that year’s awardee from Jharkhand.

Her work is a reminder that keeping children in school is itself a measure of good education, that local art and culture can make learning come alive, and that in a crisis, children helping children can carry a classroom forward.

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