Mayabunder/New Delhi: From the classrooms of Mayabunder to the national stage at Vigyan Bhavan, J. Prakash Rao of PM SHRI Government Model Senior Secondary School, Pokadera, Mayabunder, has scripted a moment of pride for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by receiving the National Teachers Award 2026.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious award to Rao at a special Teachers’ Day ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on Saturday, placing the contribution of an island educator firmly in the national spotlight.
J Prakash Rao was among 48 school teachers from across the country selected for the National Teachers Awards this year, with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands represented by the Mayabunder educator. The awardees were chosen through a rigorous three-stage selection process at the district, State/UT and national levels by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.
What makes Rao’s recognition particularly significant is his emphasis on project-based learning, an approach that takes education beyond conventional classroom instruction and encourages students to learn through practical activities, exploration, problem-solving and real-life projects.
His innovative teaching practices have helped bring greater relevance and engagement into the learning process, making students active participants rather than passive recipients of knowledge.
The recognition is therefore not merely a personal honour for Rao but also a tribute to the teachers working in the far-flung island territories, where innovative approaches can play a particularly important role in broadening students’ exposure and learning opportunities.
The Ministry of Education said the National Teachers Awards are intended to celebrate teachers who have made distinctive contributions to improving the quality of school education and enriching the lives of their students. The 2026 cohort comprises 26 male and 22 female teachers representing 27 States, seven Union Territories and six Central Government organisations.
For Mayabunder and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Rao’s achievement carries an added resonance. It showcases how committed educators in geographically remote parts of the country can innovate, inspire and make a national impact from within their own classrooms.
The honour also shines a light on the growing emphasis on experiential and activity-based learning under the evolving school education framework, with teachers like Rao demonstrating how innovative pedagogy can translate policy objectives into meaningful classroom practice.
As the President conferred the award at Vigyan Bhavan, Mayabunder had every reason to celebrate. A teacher from its island classroom had earned one of the country’s highest recognitions for school educators—turning his commitment to innovative teaching into a national achievement for the Islands.
