Akshar is a unique school in the beautiful green town of Pamohi in the northeastern Indian state of Assam. It is a school where students pay their tuition through plastic bottles. Yes! As unusual and even shocking as it may sound, this visionary school adopts a distinct mode of fee payment – Just 25 plastic bottles a week, and the students get access to education.
History of the Akshar School
Parmita Sarma and Mazin Mukhtar, a couple concerned about education and environmental sustainability, launched Akshar School in 2016. They noted that many of the village’s children could not afford to attend school and that there was a lot of plastic waste in the neighborhood. And what was their next step? Sarma and Mukhtar decided to build a school where students pay their tuition with plastic bottles to address these issues. Students are also taught about environmental issues and how to recycle and upcycle material.
Students at Akshar School are asked to bring 25 plastic bottles to school every week. The school staff then sorts and recycles the bottles. Some of the bottles are recycled to form eco-bricks, which are then used to construct furniture and other structures within the school. Other bottles are sold to raise funds for the school. The Akshar School approach has proven to be highly effective. Since its establishment, the school has enrolled over 100 students, with zero dropouts. The school has also contributed to reducing plastic pollution in the village.
The Benefits of the Akshar School Model
The Akshar School model has several benefits for the students and the environment.
Usefulness for Students
Tuition fees are not charged to Akshar School students. This opens up schooling to youngsters from all socioeconomic levels. They also learn about the environment and how to recycle and repurpose plastic. This aids in the development of a sense of environmental responsibility in them. Akshar School also provides students with vocational instruction in carpentry, gardening, and other disciplines. This assists students in developing abilities that will allow them to earn a living after graduation.
Benefits for the Environment
The Akshar School model reduces plastic pollution by encouraging children to collect and recycle plastic bottles. Using eco-bricks and other sustainable building materials at the school contributes to environmental sustainability. The Akshar School model raises awareness of the environmental issues created by plastic pollution and the value of recycling.
Akshar School also accepts donations from individuals and organizations in addition to the plastic bottle fee. Donations are used to pay teacher wages, textbooks, and other expenses. The Akshar School exemplifies how education and environmental sustainability can thrive together. The school provides free education to impoverished students while also assisting in preserving the environment. The Akshar School is a one-of-a-kind and innovative institution making a genuine difference in the lives of its students and the environment. The school’s free education and environmentalist approach is an inspiration to everyone around the world.
