national Award winning principal Awadhesh Jha reimagines education

Awadhesh Kumar Jha, principal of the Sarvodaya Co-Ed Vidyalaya, Rohini, on Friday received the coveted National Teacher’s Award from President Droupadi Murmu.

For him, the recognition was about the values he has been building in his school — psychosocial support, socio-emotional learning and a vision of education that goes far beyond textbooks.

Speaking to The Tribune, he said, “Receiving it, I felt it was not just a prize but a responsibility. Now, I am even more committed to working for the welfare of children and society.”

Among his many innovations, one of the most loved is “Dil Ki Baat”, an open forum where children from classes five, six, nine and twelve can freely share their thoughts without being judged. It has become a safe corner for young voices, helping them develop confidence and emotional balance at an early age.

Equally impactful is the Zero Waste Citizen Bank, an initiative launched with the help of a retired army officer. Here, students deposit plastic bottles, old utensils and paper, earning reward points that can be exchanged for essentials such as pencils and pens. Jha said the programme had instilled in them the habit of adhering to the 3Rs — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

To ensure that learning does not end with the school bell, Jha established the Shobhit Reading Room, which remains open all days from 8 am to 8 pm and can host 70 students at a time. It provides access to books, computers and the internet, making it a hub of continuous learning.

For senior students, he collaborated with PhysicsWallah Pvt Ltd to create a special learning hub for IIT-JEE and NEET aspirants. His school also runs a Commerce Lab, where students prepare for the CA Foundation exam, with three to four of them qualifying every year — a rare achievement in a government school.

“The honour has given me more energy. I will dedicate all my efforts to the benefit of my students and teachers,” Jha said, explaining how the award had strengthened his resolve.

His focus on holistic education is also visible in the spaces he has created for students’ emotional well-being. With the support of an NGO, Jha had set up an activity room, a junior science lab, and even a stress buster room during the Covid-19 pandemic. More recently, he launched the Heart-to-Heart Lounge, where students work on personality development, communication skills, time management, and meditation.

Through the government’s Vidyanjali 2.0 programme, Jha has also connected with NGOs and community

members to enhance classroom resources and provide mentorship opportunities. These collaborations, combined with his school’s in-house initiatives, have ensured that students receive exposure far beyond the traditional curriculum.

“A school is not just about preparing children for exams but for life itself. By encouraging emotional resilience, sustainable living and career readiness, I’m trying to transform my school into a living model of holistic education. The journey proves that with dedication and imagination, even a government school can become a beacon of inspiration for society,” Jha added.