National award for 2 state teachers

Ranchi: Two teachers from Jharkhand — Md Ejazul Haque, the headmaster of Chatra Middle School, Diwankhana, and Manoranjan Pathak, a computer teacher of Sainik School, Tilaiya — will receive the National Award to Teachers on Tuesday on the occasion of the Teachers’ Day from President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi.Haque’s “Each One, Reach One” initiative since 2019 works on the principle of meeting at least one child or parent daily, fostering a strong connection between the community and the school.The school also introduced “Night Readers”, a programme dedicated to children from underprivileged backgrounds for free education. At present, 30 kids are enrolled in the programme.Talking to TOI, Haque said, “What sets ‘Night Readers’ apart from other educational programme is the inclusive and innovative approach to teaching. I try to ensure that the children not only receive academic teachings but also their holistic development through engaging activities. The programme instils a love for learning, creativity and critical thinking among the children.”The other winner, Manoranjan Pathak is from Madhepura in Bihar and joined Sainik School, Tilaiya, in Koderma as a computer science teacher. He is the only teacher from the 33 Sainik Schools under the ministry of defence to receive the award this year. Pathak has been selected for the award for motivating students of the school to pursue online education in a disciplined manner during the Covid-19 pandemic. His efforts led many students of the school to perform well in the National Defence Academy examination.The award carries a certificate of merit, Rs 50,000 cash and a silver medal.