HT Correspondent
MANGALDAI, Jan 10: The historic Jaljoli Primary School, established 156 years ago in 1870 and located under the Mangaldai Legislative Assembly constituency, has drawn the attention of locals and passersby alike with a unique and innovative educational initiative. In the school’s lush green courtyard, around 30 young students set up stalls under the banner of a “Bhogali Mela”, gaining hands-on practical knowledge through real-life experience.
The tiny students enthusiastically took on the role of shopkeepers, selling everyday household items brought from their homes. These included coconuts, betel nuts and leaves (tamol-paan), colocasia (kosu), different varieties of rice, vegetables, leafy greens and traditional pithas (rice cakes). As customers bargained, asked about prices and enquired how much change should be returned for a given amount, the young sellers confidently calculated and responded with accurate answers. Visitors, charmed by the effort, purchased the items and carried them away with appreciation.
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Explaining the objective behind the initiative, Headmistress Mira Kalita Kumar said that the school curriculum includes lessons on markets and the teachers wanted to ensure that students gain practical exposure rather than limiting learning to textbooks.
CRCC Pragyajyoti Kashyap said such initiatives could help students better understand concepts like markets and arithmetic in a practical and engaging manner.
Local youth and Officer-in-Charge of the Udalguri Police Station’s Wireless branch, Nikunj Saharia, also visited the mela and highly praised the dedication and creativity of the teachers in nurturing life skills among young learners.
