Script of Role Play
A Seat at the Desk
A Classroom Role-Play Script on Gender Equality & Education (10 Actors)
Overview & Theme
Setting: A village household courtyard.
Core Conflict: Prima achieves top marks in her board exams and earns a full scholarship to a city college. However, her traditional family wants her to stay home and focus on marriage so they can save all financial resources for her brothers' studies.
Characters (10 Cast Members)
Narrator: Good morning everyone. Today’s role-play addresses gender equality and equal access to education. We enter the home of Jirmi and Astomi, where their daughter Prima has just received the highest marks in the region on her exams.
Prima: (Running in with high energy, holding a paper) Ma! Papa! Look! I scored 95% in Science and Math! Teacher Sarika told me I qualified for a full scholarship at the college in the city!
Astomi: (Smiling proudly) Oh Prima, that is wonderful news! You worked so hard under the lamp every night.
Sermoli: (Frowning from her chair) 95% in Math? What good is Math in a kitchen, Prima? Astomi, teach her how to cook and manage a home. She is 17—it is time to look for a good marriage match.
Jirmi: (Taking the paper, glancing briefly before putting it down) Good job, Prima. But living in the city costs money we do not have. We must save every rupee for Sartheang and Kirison’s higher studies. They are boys; they will take care of us when we grow old.
Sartheang: (Interjecting) But Papa, Prima scored higher than me! She helps me with my homework every day. If anyone deserves to go to college, it's her.
Kirison: (Nodding eagerly) Yes, Papa! Prima works harder than anyone in our school!
Jirmi: (Frowning) Silence, boys! A son carries the family name forward. A daughter marries and leaves for another home. Investing in her degree is like watering a neighbor's garden.
(Knock at the door. Enter Teacher Alirka Sarika and Sarita.)
Alirka Sarika: Namaste, Jirmi ji, Astomi ji! I couldn't wait to congratulate you personally. Prima is the top student in our entire district!
Sarita: Prima! We did it! You got the highest marks of everyone in our class!
Prima: (Tearfully) Thank you... But Papa says I cannot go to the city college.
Alirka Sarika: (Surprised) Jirmi ji, why? Prima has exceptional talent in science and mathematics. Stopping her education now is holding back her future.
Sarkiri: (Walking in as a neighbor, shaking his head) Ah, Teacher Sarika, let us not meddle in family matters. Jirmi is right. In our village, girls who leave for city hostels pick up modern ideas and refuse to settle down. Why break long-held traditions?
Sermoli: (Nodding) Exactly, Sarkiri. A girl's true duty is to learn humility and care for her family.
(Enter Songchari, the local social worker, holding informational documents.)
Songchari: Namaste everyone. I heard the great news about Prima! Jirmi ji, Sermoli ji, may I share a different perspective?
Astomi: (Hesitant) Social Worker Songchari ji, we love Prima, but resources are limited. We must prioritize our sons' futures.
Songchari: I understand your financial worries. But educating a girl is not a loss—it benefits the whole family! An educated woman can earn, help lift her family out of poverty, and guide her children's future.
Sarita: (Standing by Prima) And Prima isn't asking for extra money! She earned a full merit scholarship—her tuition is free!
Prima: (Stepping forward bravely) Papa, Dadi... I respect our home and family. But why must my dreams stop just because I am a girl? Sartheang, Kirison, and I grew up under the same roof. Why do they get a path to the future while I am told to stay behind?
Sartheang: (Stepping to Prima's side) Papa, I want to study too, but not by sacrificing my sister’s future.
Kirison: (Standing next to them) We should all have the chance to study together!
Alirka Sarika: Jirmi ji, there are hostel subsidies and government support programs specifically for bright female students like Prima. Her expenses will be minimal.
Sarkiri: (Pondering thoughtfully) Well... I suppose if the government is helping, and the village leader's daughter finished her nursing degree last year and now supports her parents... maybe times are changing.
Astomi: (Looking at Jirmi) Jirmi... our daughter has worked so hard. If her brothers support her and the school is helping, why should we hold her back out of fear of what people will say?
Sermoli: (Softening slightly) Will... will she still visit us from the city?
Prima: (Holding Sermoli's hands) Every holiday, Dadi! And I will make our family proud.
Jirmi: (Looks at Prima's marksheet again, then at Sartheang and Kirison. Takes a deep breath and smiles) I was looking at you as a burden, Prima, because that is how I was raised to view daughters. But your determination—and your brothers' support—shows me I was wrong. You will go to college!
(All characters clap and cheer warmly.)
Narrator: (Steps forward as all 10 actors stand side-by-side)
Gender equality begins at home. When we treat daughters and sons equally, we do not divide our resources—we double our family's strength. Education is not a privilege reserved for boys; it is a fundamental human right for everyone.
© English with Serbamon Teron | serbamonteron.com