Jammu, Sept 6: Kuldeep Gupta, in-charge lecturer in the Zoology department at Government Higher Secondary School, Jindra, has been honoured with the prestigious National Teachers’ Award 2025 by the President of India on Teachers’ Day. The award recognises his exemplary contribution to school education over a remarkable career spanning 32 years.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir over the phone, Gupta reflected on his journey since his appointment as a teacher in 1992. “I have taught across various levels, from teachers to lecturers, and currently serve in Jindra, about 60 kilometers from Jammu city. Throughout my career, I observed that students’ interest in science was limited, often treated as rote memorisation rather than a subject for inquiry. My focus has been on fostering scientific thinking through practical teaching aids and hands-on learning,” he said.
Gupta pioneered the establishment of a mini science lab in Jindra, integrating simple experimental kits made from everyday materials. “In over 15 to 20 national-level training sessions, I introduced kits covering topics such as mathematics, biodiversity, and soil science, enabling students to learn concepts through observation and experimentation,” he added.
His initiatives date back to 2000, when he guided students in Gandhi Nagar through science projects that mimicked PhD-level research, collecting local data, analysing problems, experimenting, and proposing solutions. “Our projects reached district, state, and even national competitions, demonstrating the power of experiential learning,” he noted.
In 2009, Gupta became the Academic Coordinator for Child Science in Jammu Division, coordinating district and state-level science programs and accompanying students to national events, a role he found highly rewarding.
Committed to teacher capacity building, Gupta has served as a resource person under the National Academy of Professional Development for the past six years, training over 1,500 educators. He emphasises the use of digital tools such as virtual labs and interactive software to enhance professional development.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gupta contributed to e-content creation, developing video lessons widely used in 2021 and 2022, further supporting remote learning. He has also worked on improving school curricula.
Describing the National Teachers’ Award selection process, Gupta explained, “Teachers are nominated by the state, followed by an online application and evaluation by a central jury through video conferencing. The focus is on quality teaching and assessment rather than quotas.”
On receiving the award, he said, “It was like a dream come true. I am deeply grateful to all the facilitators who recognised my work and gave me this honour.”
Gupta’s dedication to innovative and experiential learning, his creation of low-cost teaching aids, and his mentorship of students in national competitions have earned him widespread recognition. As a resource person for DIET Jammu and JKSCERT, he has also contributed significantly to teacher training.
The Ministry of Education’s Department of School Education & Literacy selected 45 teachers for the 2025 National Teachers’ Awards through a rigorous three-stage process involving district, state, and national evaluations. This year’s awardees represent 27 states, seven Union Territories, and six organisations, comprising 24 men and 21 women.
The National Teachers’ Awards, presented annually on Teachers’ Day, celebrate teachers who have enhanced school education quality and enriched students’ lives. Online nominations for the 2025 awards were invited from June 23 to July 20.
