September 5 is going to be a huge day for the Headmistress of
Government High School (GHS), Morpirla, Maria Murena Miranda, who will be
receiving the National Award to Teachers 2022. However, instead of enjoying the
moment of glory, at the back of her mind, she is still thinking about the SSC
students who will be missing out on her classes. “These last few days have been
hectic after receiving the news about the award. I will be attending the
ceremony in the morning on September 5 in New Delhi with my husband, Jason but
once I return from Delhi, I want to get back to my simple life and start
teaching my SSC students. I can’t lose my concentration from my students’
studies,” says the concerned teacher, Maria Murena Miranda.
This year, 46 meritorious teachers have
been selected for the honour of receiving the National Awards to Teachers 2022
on the occasion of National Teachers Day through a rigorous selection process.
She is the only one from Goa to make it onto the list, all thanks to her
efforts of reaching out to the students at the grassroot level and building
their confidence to dream big.
Hailing from Assolna, Miranda is married
to Jason Noronha and blessed with two children, Miriam, who is an engineer and
Jeremy, a travel blogger. She was born and brought up in a scholarly family of
Sanguem. Her brother has a Phd in Maths, one sister is an IITian from Powai
IIT, and another sister is an Msc in Maths while the other two are graduates.
Miranda completed her MscBEd in Physics. She did her initial schooling at
Miracles High School, Sanguem.
“I worked as assistant teacher in Guardian Angel High School,
Curchorem for Maths and Science, taught physics at Dr TB Cunha Higher Secondary
School, Panjim, Govt Higher Secondary School,Canacona, Government Multi-Purpose
Higher Secondary School, Margao, science in Government High School, Shistal,
Canacona and for the last nine years, I have been teaching science for SSC at
GHS, Morpirla. It’s been 34 long years of teaching. A village school, GHS, has
made a difference and we give tough competition to aided schools when it comes
to interschool competitions,” says Miranda proudly.
GHS Morpirla caters to 100 percent tribal students and as a
headmistress, her school has secured 100 percent results for SSCE for seven
consecutive years. “My SSC team of teachers is excellent. Cassy Carneiro
teaches English, Social 1 and Social Science 2, Ganraj Kurtarkar teaches Maths,
Meghan Bhiker teaches Hindi and Marathi and I teach Science. These teachers
literally fight to take classes, which I have seen only in this school. That’s
why we get 100 percent SSC results,” she explains.
It was not a cakewalk for Miranda to get these results. It took
years of hard work, training the students right from Class 5 to be well
prepared for every examination. “I faced lot of challenges while teaching
tribal children. They are first generation learners so we have to take care of
everything, I knew these children have no support at home so I stay extra hours
in the school and give them coaching. I provide them with lot of support to be
confident in public speaking,” says Miranda, whose students have done wonders
in the field of academics.
Her students have attended Sakura Science programme in Japan,
won the Ozone poster competition at the National level, State winners for Wipro
Science projects, and the school also won five prizes for ‘Eat Right Competition’
at the National level and is the only school from Goa to feature in the leader
board of Eat Right with 11th Rank. Four students’ ideas got selected for
Inspire Award of Rs 10,000 each. This year, seven out of the ten students from
Goa who passed the science talent exam in SC/ ST category, were from GHS
Morpirla.
Covid brought in another set of challenges and when most
students took their studies lightly, the students in Morpirla were blessed with
these teachers, “Many innovative ideas were introduced like art integrated
learning where we make use of drama, role play games to learn, peer to peer
learning, where older children help younger ones with studies, and remote
learning. I was visiting houses and taking classes in buses, temple areas and wherever
possible as my children are very eager to learn. Along with my teachers, I make
the students answer a lot of mock tests, so that they do well in the Board
Exam. I supply them free photo copies of old question papers and sit with the
students even after working hours, Sundays and holidays and take up their
lessons as if they are my own. Now, the RDA has provided us with smart
classrooms so things are easier and children can solve CBSE papers too,” she
adds. She introduced a mobile library for her students and drives around the
village with books in her vehicle.
Miranda won the State Best Teachers Award in 2020. She explains
the prodecure of the National Award, “I applied online and then I was selected
at the district level and later my name was shortlisted by the State along with
two other teachers. The final recommendation is done by the Directorate of
Education Government of Goa. On August 4, I had to make a presentation and
interview and then, the National Independent Jury selected me. I had a lot of
plus points compared to other two teachers. I was teaching tribals, put into
force a lot of innovative ideas and prepared low cost teaching aids which made
a difference in the life of the students and the community.”
To
conclude, before heading to New Delhi, Miranda gives a message to the teaching
community, “I am happy and excited to receive the National award as my work for
tribal students is recognized. I dedicate the award to my hardworking teachers,
lovely students and their parents. My message to the teaching community is
understand that each child is different, each child is gifted with different
talents we must understand all children, give our best and mould the students
into bright citizens.”
