Yavatmal: In a remote corner of Wani taluka in Yavatmal district, a zilla parishad school is challenging long-held perceptions about rural education. At the Mendholi ZP Primary School, students are not just focussing on their regular curriculum — they are learning German and doing so with zest that surprised even their teachers.Mendholi, a village of 1,500 residents, 15km off Wani is largely dependent on agriculture. The local zilla parishad upper primary school has 96 students from Class 1 to 7. Among the staff is assistant teacher Neha Gokhare, whose passion for foreign languages has introduced an unexpected opportunity for these rural children.Gokhare, who secured third rank in Maharashtra and first in the Amravati division in the state-level foreign language (German) examination conducted by SCERT Pune, was selected for specialised training under Maharashtra govt’s initiative to promote German language. With Germany offering free higher education and strong employment prospects for skilled workers, the state has been encouraging young students to develop proficiency in the language.In 2022, under the Global Maharashtra Project, then group education officer of Zari Panchayat Samiti, Prakash Nagarale, selected Gokhare for advanced training. Upon returning, she introduced German to students using interactive classroom practices, including activity-based learning, games, and regular speaking exercises. Over time, these methods transformed what began as an unfamiliar subject into a favourite classroom activity.Today, Mendholi’s students can confidently communicate in basic German. They can count up to 10, spell names, frame simple sentences, and hold short conversations — skills not found in many students in urban schools.Speaking on the initiative, Gokhare said: “Education in Germany is free. Our students are capable and intelligent, but many come from financially weak backgrounds. They cannot afford opportunities abroad. Teaching them German helps broaden their horizons. Now, they talk to each other in German, and their confidence has grown manifold.”Parents and villagers, initially surprised by the idea of German being taught in a rural school, now express pride in how quickly the children have progressed. The initiative has also motivated students to explore global career paths they had never previously imagined.What began as one teacher’s ambition has now become a beacon of possibility. Mendholi’s example highlights how innovative teaching and committed educators can reshape rural education and open global doors — even in the most modest of classrooms.
