Well-loved teacher reflects on decades as an educator

By Indrawattie Natram
Growing up as a small boy, finances were among the major challenges Modi Ram Beepat of Vilvordeen Village on the Essequibo Coast. However, this did not deter him from pursuing his education and becoming a high-respected individual in his community. Sir Beepat has 20 years’ experience in teaching and currently holds a Trained Teacher’s Certificate and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (Primary).

The father of two is presently in his second year pursuing a Master in Education, Management and Supervision at the University of Guyana. During an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, Beepat said that he began teaching at the Riverstown Primary in 1999 as an Agriculture Teacher. He worked until 2013 then moved to Smith Memorial Primary in Georgetown where he pursued his studies at CPCE and the University of Guyana.

He was recently appointed as a Graduate Headmaster of Mashabo Primary School which is located approximately 20 minutes from the Huis T’ Dieren Public Road. Pupils from the school who wrote the Grade Six Assessment while under his watch were able to gain entry to “List A” Secondary schools, which was a first for the school after more than 30 years. This, he said, was his greatest achievement.

“I am motived to work even harder with this new batch. One hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, or the sort of house I lived in or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child,” Beepat explained.

STRUGGLES
Beepat drew inspiration to become a teacher from his illiterate father. He said his father did not get to pursue an education because he had to drop out of school to support his siblings. He further explained that his father worked tirelessly as a labourer to send his children to school, and in return he pledged to make him proud by joining the teaching profession so he can educate others.

“I usually keep this quote close to me: ‘Reading is the gateway to knowledge. I believe that children learn to read then read to learn. Once they can read, it is possible that they will pass their exams and cope with life in the wider world,” Beepat said.

When asked what his biggest challenge was growing up, he said finance, since his parents were poor. “I had gained a place at the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School (ARMS) when I wrote the NGSA [which was called the Secondary School Entrance Examination at the time]. I attended ARMS for the first year. During that year I usually walked to school from Columbia. My parents then transferred me to Abrams Zuil Secondary and purchased a bicycle for me. I rode for four years from Vilvordeen to Abram Zuil and motivated myself with my dream of becoming a teacher. I am proud of my accomplishments today,” Beepat reminisced.

20 YEARS OF TEACHING
Having taught for 20 years, Beepat said that he found it enjoyable and he doesn’t think there is any other job more satisfying than teaching. He said teachers determine the future of children and if you don’t put 100 per cent into it, then you won’t get that satisfying feeling when they graduate.

“I usually observe the pupils and see what they like to do and I work on that. At my school, the pupils like to sing. I usually walk with videos from YouTube as a re-enforcement for every topic. Most of the videos are songs. When the pupils sing, they remember the concepts. I allow my pupils to play games based on the concepts taught. Once the pupils are having fun, they will remember the concepts. Gone are the days when teachers use to fill the chalkboard with notes. It is only wasting their time and the child’s time. Most of the time pupils do not re-read what they have written. I try to summarise my content in points form,” the teacher said.

Beepat is, therefore, encouraging young teachers to be dedicated and committed to their job. He said that teachers need to be role models to students and to give them attention whenever they need.

“[They should] always be regular and punctual and carry themselves worthy of the profession in and out of school. I found the enquiry approach to teaching very useful. When pupils discover for themselves, they remember the concepts for a longer time. Teachers need to focus on concepts and not content. Make lessons fun by using different strategies and inculcating the use of technology,” he advised.

Beepat was rewarded as a student on the Honour Roll list in his first year and was the only person in the Bachelor of Education (Primary) programme to graduate with a distinction.