Gajendra Singh Rathore, Vice Principal, CM RISE School Vinoba, Ratlam (MP), India
CM RISE School Vinoba, Ratlam, a government school serving kindergarten through secondary grades in Madhya Pradesh, India, has emerged as a beacon of innovation in public education. Originally established to educate girls from a marginalised community in the urban slums of Ambedkar Nagar, the school faced severe challenges, including low enrollment, poor attendance, and crumbling infrastructure.
Rejuvenated in 2022 under new leadership, the school began a transformative journey built on resilience, innovation, and a vision to empower its 577 students. This transformation culminated in the school winning the World’s Best School Prize for Innovation 2024, awarded by the global education platform T4 Education.
About the School:
CM RISE School Vinoba is not just a school; it’s a movement. Positioned in a challenging urban environment, the school has redefined what is possible for government education in India. The leadership—under Vice Principal Gajendra Singh Rathore—has developed an innovative model called the “Cycle of Growth”, which focuses on continuous professional development for teachers and holistic engagement for students.
This model reversed the school’s declining trajectory—dramatically improving student attendance, academic performance, and participation in extracurricular activities. Through strategic collaboration with the community and the support of organizations like Peepul and the Madhya Pradesh Department of School Education, the school has become a lighthouse for innovation.
Leadership and Innovation:
Mr. Gajendra Singh Rathore, a National Teacher Awardee (2017) and educationist with 29 years of experience, took over as Vice Principal in 2022. Upon arrival, he and his team encountered a school disconnected from its community and facing deep-rooted challenges—from students skipping school to severe infrastructure neglect.
Rathore and his team knew that transformation required more than just planning; it needed a culture shift. They began by instilling trust, creating joyful learning spaces, and focusing on teachers as the core change-makers.
His self-designed Cycle of Growth became the foundation of this transformation—an ongoing system of appreciation, teacher training, classroom observations, feedback loops, and collaborative planning. Innovative mechanisms like “Teacher of the Month”, team huddles, and data-driven progress tracking fostered a culture of ownership and excellence.
The Ripple Effect: From Teachers to Students:
Empowered teachers led to empowered students. Classroom culture shifted, with practices like social-emotional learning spaces, entry-exit routines, student reward systems, and daily morning sports sessions.
Students began showing remarkable self-discipline, academic curiosity, and engagement. Tools like learning level-based assessments (L1, L2, L3), custom trackers, and a herbal garden project enhanced learning while embedding values like leadership and self-reflection.
Revolutionising Parental Engagement:
In a community where parental involvement was once below 5%, CM RISE Vinoba now boasts 85–90% participation in parent-teacher meetings—some classes even reaching 100%. This success is credited to the Vinoba Model of Parental Engagement, a blend of offline and online strategies including:
- Capsule online PTMs,
- Feedback diaries,
- WhatsApp groups,
- One-on-one home feedback,
- Live community teaching based on NCERT content, and
- Recognition programs for student and parent achievement.
Outcomes & Achievements:
- Enrollment waitlist exceeds 700 students.
- Attendance increased from 25–37% to 90%.
- Students now compete at state and national levels in sports, science, literature, and the arts.
- 13 athletes at the state level; 2 at the national level.
- Recognised as a “Daksh School” and declared a “Lighthouse School” by the State Education Department.
- Awarded the prestigious World’s Best School Prize for Innovation 2024 by T4 Education (USD $10,000 prize).
Words from T4 Education:
Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education, said:
“It is my great honour to bestow upon CM RISE School Vinoba, Ratlam in India the World’s Best School Prize for Innovation 2024. The difference you have made will inspire educators and policymakers alike. Your work lights the way to a better future.”
A Word from the Vice Principal:
Gajendra Singh Rathore said:
“We never imagined that our school would be recognised globally. Our journey started by simply confronting challenges, innovating, and staying persistent. This honour validates that real transformation is possible in government schools, even in the most marginalized communities.”
Cycle of Growth Is A Model for the World
CM RISE School Vinoba is now a symbol of what’s possible when leadership, community, and educators come together with a shared vision. With its “Cycle of Growth” model, the school has not just transformed lives—it has rewritten the narrative for public education in India.
“We are proud to be a government school. We are Team Vinoba, said Rathore.
Gajendra Singh Rathore’ Credentials
Gajendra Singh Rathore is widely recognised in Madhya Pradesh’s educational community as a visionary innovator and a dedicated education influencer. Here comes a few credentials of Rathore which has impacted education standards in India as well as on global map:
- He was honored with India’s highest teaching accolade—the National Teacher Award (President’s Award)—in 2017. His distinguished career includes numerous prestigious awards, notably the Innovative Science Teacher Award of Madhya Pradesh in both 2001 and 2016.
- Currently, Rathore serves as the Vice Principal (High School Principal) of CM Rise School Vinoba, Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, India. Under his leadership, the institution has gained global recognition, being awarded the World’s Best School Prize for Innovation by T4 Education, a renowned international organization. Furthermore, Rathore holds the copyright to his innovative “Cycle of Growth” model, officially recognized by the Government of India.
- A state-level master trainer in school management, Rathore has made substantial contributions to curriculum development and has been involved in several departmental publications focused on school leadership and innovation.
- Rathore is also an active educational content creator. His digital outreach includes platforms focusing on topics such as Science and Physics Teaching, Scientific Explanation of Miracles, and Low-Cost Teaching Resources, engaging lakhs of students and teachers across the country. His YouTube channel, named Gajendra Singh Rathore, has amassed over 1.35 lakh subscribers and millions of views.
- In 2024, he was invited as an educational speaker at the World School Summit in Dubai, marking another significant milestone in his global recognition.
Early Life and Career Milestones
- Gajendra Singh Rathore received his primary to secondary education in Piploda village, Ratlam, M.P., India, consistently ranking at the top of his class. He was nationally recognized for his talent in theatre and drama during his student years and actively participated in the Literacy and People’s Science Movement.
- He secured a top university rank in MSc Physics and B.Ed., following which he was appointed as a Lecturer in the School Education Department of Madhya Pradesh. His dedication to teaching and innovation earned him the Best Innovative Science Teacher of Madhya Pradesh awards in 2001 and 2016, the Best School Principal Award in 2006, and the National Teacher Award in 2017.
- Rathore received advanced leadership and management training from the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) and IIM Indore.
- As the school leader and principal of CM Rise School Vinoba, Rathore played a pivotal role in guiding the institution to win the World’s Best School Prize for Innovation from T4 Education.
- His commitment to accessible education continues post-COVID, with free online classes and Sunday sessions, reinforcing his role as a beloved educational influencer in Madhya Pradesh.
- His leadership excellence was also acknowledged by the Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI), Madhya Pradesh, with the school earning an ISO 9001:2015 certification and receiving a special commendation for its innovative contributions to education.