Parmita Sarma and Mazin Mukhtar, founders of Akshar School in Assam, have pioneered a unique educational model that accepts only plastic as fees, teaching students to upcycle and recycle. Every Friday, students bring collected plastic items, contributing to the school’s mission of environmental sustainability.

What to know? Since its inception in 2016, Akshar School has transformed education into an eco-conscious journey, attracting students from underprivileged backgrounds and breaking the cycle of poverty.

The school’s innovative approach includes employing students as ‘student teachers,’ paying them for their services, and replacing cash payments with a point system to ensure funds are spent on the child’s needs.

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This model has significantly increased attendance, with the school now educating 150 children. Akshar School also focuses on vocational training, and teaching skills like carpentry and solar panel fitting.

In addition to traditional education, the school has set up a recycling plant, turning plastic into eco-bricks and upcycled goods, further instilling practical environmental lessons.

The success of their curriculum led to collaborations with other schools and an MoU with the Assam government to replicate their model in government schools. Their efforts have extended to the Swachh Bharat Mission, collecting plastic from over one lakh students for recycling.

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