A general line teacher, who has devised unique method to simplify the teaching process, was felicitated by the Minister of Education, Naeem Akhtar, at his office in civil secretariat here today."Innovation is a key part of education and it is a matter of great honour for our department to have such bright teachers. I congratulate him for his novel method of teaching which could be emulated by other teachers also," the Education Minister said.A video clip showing Mohammad Yusuf Rather (Gulfam), a resident of Aglar in Pinjoora Shopian, teaching primary class students using multi-lingual rhymes had recently gone viral on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, drawing huge praise.Yusuf said he uses "Slogan Method", "Rhyme Method" and "Art Method" in his classroom to simplify the process of teaching and learning. "All three languages - Kashmiri, Urdu and English, are used in these methods which become a tool for students to remember their lessons very easily," he said.
Yusuf, who thanked the Education Minister for recognizing his efforts, had joined the Education Department in 2004 as a Rehber-e-Taleem and got regularized in 2009. "After devising these methods, I realised that the students found it very easy to remember their lessons," he said.Yusuf teaches at Government Boys Primary School in Aglar from where he passed out as a student. He is a BA from Kashmir University. Although his parents are illiterate, Yusuf was inclined towards education from early years and he didn't let the death of his mother at a very early stage of his life affect his schooling. "My Mother passed away when I was a child. Father was a farmer. I learnt cooking when I was in class 6th. Till the time I completed my graduation, I used to cook food for the family," Yusuf, who has two sons and a daughter, said."Although one of my sons, Aamir Yusuf, did his schooling from a private school, he is not as bright and capable as my other two children - daughter Shahida Yusuf and son, Showkeen Yusuf," he added.