Malala to motivate students in Bhopal

Tense Indo-Pakistan ties notwithstanding, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has decided to bank on the youngest Nobel laureate and non-resident Pakistani, Malala Yousafzai to inspire and motivate students, especially girls in state-run schools, to fight against odds and continue their studies.

Malala’s views and vision through news clippings and photographs have been pinned on notice boards of all government schools of Bhopal. The district education office has also instructed teachers to inform the students about her struggle.

Earlier, the Madhya Pradesh government had asked the schools to have posters of Swami Vivekananda, Prime Minster, President, chief minister and B R Ambedkar in prominent places in their buildings.

This is for the first time the school education department has gone global to select a role model for the school students.

District education officer Dharmendra Sharma said, “Swami Vivekananda and Ambedkar are heroes of India and students should learn about them. But to draw inspiration they need a person, who has earned his/her name in the present situation.”

“We saw the data on students drop out and found that compared to boys, more girls leave their studies. Yousafzai who fought a battle against Taliban in Afghanistan and even suffered a bullet injury just to continue her studies will inspire the girls here,” Sharma added.

Teachers and students are also happy with this step.

A teacher of Naveen Girls’ Government School Radha Rani