Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Headmaster’s Mothers’ School Brings Literacy to North Dinajpur Village
Sushanta Nandi is a headmaster in North Dinajpur.
He noticed that some students’ mothers could not read or write.
So he started a small school for them on Saturday afternoons.
The mothers learn letters, words, numbers and how to write their names.
They also learn about health, hygiene, rights and their children’s education.
The class began with five mothers and now has about 40 learners.
Nearly half can write their names.
Their learning is helping the whole village value education across generations.
Headmaster Sushanta Nandi has run Mayeder Pathshala for mothers of Tarabari FP School students for about a year.
The Saturday lessons teach Bengali letters, word formation, handwriting, arithmetic, reading, hygiene, health and basic rights.
Participation has grown from five mothers to around 40, with nearly half now able to write their names.
Nandi supplies learning materials, snacks and monthly tests, while also offering a separate unit for senior citizens.
Learners recently celebrated their progress at The Telegraph School Awards event with messages including “Ami Pori” and “Ami Likhi.”
- Who
- Headmaster Sushanta Nandi and mothers, including senior citizens, from the Tarabari village community.
- What
- Nandi’s Mayeder Pathshala provides informal literacy and basic education lessons for mothers of school students.
- When
- Saturday afternoons for about a year; the learners also take monthly tests.
- Where
- Near Tarabari FP School in Tarabari village, in North Dinajpur; Nandi lives in Islampur.
- Why
- Nandi wanted to help mothers affected by illiteracy and limited educational opportunities so they could read, write and support their children’s education.
- Initiative
- Mayeder Pathshala, or Mothers’ School
- Organizer
- Sushanta Nandi, headmaster of Tarabari FP School
- Duration
- About one year
- Participation
- Grew from five mothers to around 40 learners
- Progress
- Nearly half of the participants can now write their names
- Subjects
- Bengali letters, word formation, handwriting, arithmetic, reading, health, hygiene and basic rights
- Additional provision
- A separate learning unit has been created for senior citizens