Bhubaneswar: In recognition of his innovative teaching methods and dedication to improving student development in a remote, Maoist-affected area, Basant Kumar Rana, the Head Master of Kandel Government Higher Primary School in Malkangiri, has been selected for the National Teacher Award 2025. He is one of two teachers from the State of Odisha to receive the honor.
Shri Rana was posted at the Kandel school in 2022, where he found a low student enrollment and high dropout rates. To combat this, he introduced innovative and joyful teaching methods.
For example, he turned the school walls into teaching aids by painting them with informative charts and diagrams. He also incorporated string and glove puppets to make lessons more engaging. His efforts have been successful, with the school’s student strength increasing and dropout rates significantly decreasing in just two years.
The National Teacher Award is an annual honor conferred by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to publicly recognize and celebrate the exceptional contributions of teachers across the country.
The awards are given out on September 5, which is also observed as Teachers’ Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a former President of India.
The award for 2025 will be presented at a ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. Each recipient receives a cash prize of ₹50,000, a silver medal, and a certificate of merit.