For 30+ Years, This Teacher Has Turned Shops, Farms & Fire Stations Into Classrooms

Ujjwala Wadekar, a teacher from Jalgaon, India, believes true learning happens outside the classroom. For over 30 years, she has transformed everyday places into learning spaces for her students.

Learning Beyond Four Walls

Wadekar takes her students on weekly field trips to local businesses and workplaces. They visit petrol pumps, mechanic shops, salons, milk factories, and farms. This allows children to see real work in action and understand how the world around them operates.

She uses creative methods to teach. Sometimes, she pretends to be a milk vendor to teach math. Other times, she brings a telescope so students can see the moon up close. For Wadekar, learning is about experiencing concepts, not just memorizing them.

Building Stronger Connections

Wadekar's teaching goes beyond school hours. She often visits students' homes, building strong relationships that extend past report cards.

She started these innovative teaching methods in the 1990s, challenging traditional education. She believes every child is intelligent and just needs someone to believe in them.