New Delhi, August 22: Pushpa Prasad, a teacher from Kuchaykot in Gopalganj, Bihar, has been selected for the prestigious National Teacher Award. She will be honored by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on September 5, Teacher’s Day. Shailendra Pratap Singh from Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh, has also been chosen for this esteemed recognition.
Valmiki Prasad, the principal of Government Girls Middle School Kuchaykot, expressed his pride, stating, “I can confidently say that she has contributed to the school not just as a teacher but as a guardian and mother to the children, fully engaging in their education, attire, and activities. All the teachers and the school community feel immensely proud. Especially since the students come from very underprivileged backgrounds, their parents are also very happy. In homes where the light of education had never shone, she has worked to ignite that flame.”
He added that Pushpa has made tireless efforts, including building blackboards in marginalized areas. Due to financial constraints, many children cannot afford notebooks or pencils, so they spend their time studying on these blackboards. Their mothers and guardians have also provided full support.
Pushpa Prasad shared her feelings about the award, saying, “Honestly, I couldn’t believe it. When the congratulations started pouring in, I realized that this honor was indeed for me. I am deeply grateful to everyone. My dreams have come true; this is a golden moment. Somewhere, I had dreamt with open eyes that I would meet the President, whom I only see in pictures, and now I feel blessed.”
She acknowledged the challenges of teaching in rural areas but emphasized that success makes one forget those difficulties. “I have navigated the path to success while carrying my failures with me. In rural settings, there is often a lack of education, so I focused on raising awareness among parents before talking to the children. I convinced them to send their kids to school, and their support has been unwavering.”
On the other hand, Shailendra Pratap Singh remarked, “This honor is not just mine; it represents all the teachers in Sidhi district, as well as the children and parents here. I joined this school on August 13, when there were only 69 students. On August 15, during the flag hoisting, I spoke to the parents, expressing my desire to provide quality education for their children. As a result, we raised nearly 500,000 rupees through community contributions and renovated the school building. Currently, we have 202 students enrolled, with a majority being girls. Students from my school have also been selected for military schools and Navodaya Vidyalayas.”
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