Jaipur: A govt school in Rajasthan’s Tonk district has started publishing its own newspaper to bridge the gap in access to newspapers in rural areas and give students a platform to develop creativity, journalism skills and leadership abilities.PM Shri Govt Senior Secondary School, Raholi, publishes Raholi Shiksha Samachar in Hindi and Raholi Education Times in English, in both print and online formats. Students from Classes 10 to 12 handle almost every aspect of the newspapers, from news gathering and photography to writing, editing and page design.School principal Yogendra Singh Naruka said the newspapers cover academic, cultural, sports, social, environmental and innovation-related activities at the school. Students undertake news gathering, photography, videography, interviews, news writing, editing, graphic designing and page layout themselves.While some students work as photographers, others take on roles such as reporters, news writers, graphic designers and editorial assistants. Teachers guide and mentor them throughout the process.An editorial board comprising Naruka, school teacher Pooja Patidar and selected students oversees the newspapers’ operations. The board familiarises students with the nuances of journalism and ensures the quality of the content.Naruka, who has studied journalism, said after taking charge of the school in Raholi, a rural and relatively remote area, he noticed that very few students received newspapers at home. He also observed that many of the school’s innovative activities and achievements did not receive adequate coverage in major newspapers.“Whenever news about any achievement of the school, along with a photograph, was published, students would read it repeatedly, show it to their classmates and become extremely excited. This experience led to the idea of publishing a newspaper of our own,” he said.Naruka said the school first published a book based on its three-year development plan in the 2022 academic session. Following its success, the first issue of Raholi Shiksha Samachar was published in 2023 using his own funds.“After that, our teacher colleagues extended their support for the regular publication of the newspaper, and the initiative gradually developed into a strong educational innovation,” he said.The print edition is published monthly, quarterly or on special occasions, depending on the availability of funds and time. The initiative does not receive any separate financial assistance from govt, Naruka said.“The financial support required for the publication and distribution of the newspaper is voluntarily provided by the school’s teachers. With the participation of our teacher colleagues, the innovation has continued to grow, and the newspaper reaches students free of cost,” he said.Copies are distributed among students so they can read about their achievements and school activities and draw inspiration from them.PM Shri Govt Senior Secondary School, Raholi, in Niwai, is also being developed as a Centre of Excellence by the state education dept for its innovative approach to addressing community issues. The school has also been entrusted with providing academic guidance and hand-holding support to other schools across the state.The school has also entered the Hindustan Book of Records for its innovative practices.
