Kapurthala teacher bags state award for school reforms

Gurmukh Singh, head teacher at Government Elementary School, Dhaliwal Dona, has transformed his school into a vibrant centre of learning and student well-being through a series of remarkable initiatives. From arranging an auto rickshaw to ensure safe transport for students, to building a skating ring on campus, Singh has left no stone unturned in creating a joyful and enriching educational environment.

He has focused on maintaining clean and welcoming school premises, ensuring a functional kitchen for mid-day meals and introducing a host of innovative science projects and experiments. Educational tours and hands-on learning activities have further helped spark curiosity among his students and significantly improved learning outcomes.

In recognition of these outstanding efforts, Gurmukh Singh has been honoured with the prestigious State Teacher Award 2025 from Kapurthala district.

An ETT 1999-2001 batch teacher from Kapurthala, Gurmukh Singh was initially appointed under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) on contract at the Government Elementary School, village Kothi. In 2006, he was appointed to the elementary school at village Chak Dona. In 2019, he became head teacher at a government school in Lakhan Khurd and in 2021, he was transferred to the Government Elementary School, Dhaliwal Dona.

Gurmukh currently heads the only school in Kapurthala district that has its own e-rickshaw to transport children. His school also features a skating rink and he takes pride in the fact that, unlike many schools struggling with student retention, his school has witnessed consistent growth. In 2019, the school had 79 students; today, the number stands at 141-an increase of over 80 per cent.

The school was also selected under the "School of Happiness" project, with the first phase of implementation now complete, according to Gurmukh.

Other key developments at the school include a new gate built with help from NRI Kuldeep Singh, a 200-meter track and skating rink funded by NRI Jasbir Singh and new bathrooms developed in collaboration with ITC.

"My aim is to try new innovations, ensure a clean campus for overall well-being and keep my wards happy. Investing time and energy in innovative projects is surprisingly one of the means to do it. The idea is to prove that government education doesn't need to be lesser than private education in any aspect if the vision and will are right," Gurmukh said.

Gurmukh Singh's previous recognitions include the Best Teacher Award (2019, Independence Day), an appreciation certificate from the Secretary of Education for increasing enrolment (2019), the Swachhta Award (2021) and the Best Kitchen Award from FSSAI (2023).