PTC News Desk: Government school teacher Rajinder Singh will receive the National Teachers' Award from the President of India on the upcoming Teachers' Day. 

Who is Rajinder Singh?

Rajinder Singh, an elementary teacher at Government Primary School in Kothe Indra Singh Wale, Goniana Mandi, Bathinda district, has transformed the little village school in eight years. When he started at this school in 2015, there were only 33 students and it was about to shut. The school now has 240 students, including those from 16 nearby villages.

Singh is a double MA in Punjabi and English and has been in the teaching line for 20 years. 

Transformation in Bathinda school

"I've worked at four government schools, all of which were dilapidated when I started. I converted them into smart schools. When I started at my present school in 2015, there were only 33 children. The total number has now reached 240. During the enrolment campaign, the Punjab government's goal was 'each one brings one', whereas my school's goal was 'each one brings two", Singh said.

Singh often conducts competitions in which children from his school compete against children from surrounding private schools to convince parents that his school is no worse in any way.