Teacher Buys Bus To Pick Up Students Every Day So No One Drops Out

By Amanda Thomason July 9, 2018 at 11:08am

There are plenty of educators out in this world, but there are some who just seem born to teach, develop and encourage. If you’re fortunate enough, you might meet one in your schooling years.

These are the people who go above and beyond: Teaching isn’t a career for them so much as it is a calling. Skimpy salaries aren’t enough to scare them off, and they will do everything in their power to coach their students into well-rounded individuals beyond the immediate scope of their courses.

One math and science teacher from Udupi, India, falls into that category. Rajaram may teach those two subjects, but his care for his students extends far beyond the confines of his classes.

He saw a need, and he filled it. Kids kept disappearing from month to month, deciding to stay home rather than make the mud-path trek to school.

“There are no roads from the houses of the children to the school,” he said. “There is a mud path through the forest and most of the girl students began dropping out as their families were scared of allowing their children to walk for a total of 6 km to and from school.”

“Every week at least five to six students were not turning up.”

A teacher on a minuscule salary himself, Rajaram did not have the means to tackle this problem alone. But he had a plan.

“I called up one of our former students — Vijay Hegde and proposed the idea of buying a bus to pick up and drop the children,” he said.

After contacting another concerned former student, the three of them were able to put their money together and buy a vehicle to pick up the kids and ensure that there were no more transportation issues.

Rajaram’s involvement didn’t stop there. He (and presumably the school) could pay for gas and insurance, but not another salary that would be necessitated by hiring a driver.

But he could learn to drive. So he did.

“The school starts at 9.30 am and I make sure that all students are on time,” Rajaram said. “There are three teachers including me and a headmistress in our school.”

“One of the teachers comes to school before the students from the first trip reach school. The teachers stay back in school until all the students are dropped off and I come back to park the bus.”

Because of his efforts, attendance increased from 50 to 90 — almost double what it was before! With that need cared for, Rajaram is setting his sights on his next project.

“I am thinking of constructing a fence around the school and also a track so children can practice sports,” he said.

“The problem is I don’t have enough money. I have reached out to the alumni of the school and asked if they will help. So far, there is money trouble but I am sure we will surpass that hurdle as well. The children will be motivated to attend classes if there are sports and other activities.”

Great work, Rajaram!

Submit your story here, and subscribe to our best uplifting stories here.

Submit a Correction →