Ehsan Fazili/Srinagar

One day English teacher Mohammad Jabir noticed the students of his school singing and clapping merrily. “I saw a group of students sitting in a circular formation, clapping and singing “Mumbai mein aik tha school, Jisme panda befazool, Na koi teache, na koi rule…” (There is school in Mumbai. It’s no good to study there since it has no teachers and no rule…).” He saw this trend catching up with more student groups.

“I used the same rhythm to teach English Phonetics, Grammar, and vocabularies,”, says Jabir, 43, who teaches English, and environmental science in the Government Middle School, Karith in the Kargil district of Ladakh Union territory, and is among 46 teachers who would be conferred with National awards by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday.

Mohammad Jabir, teacher, Government Middle School, Karith, Kargil

For Javed Ahmad Rather, Principal of Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Baramulla, Kashmir, the award has come as a surprise. He told Awaz-the Voice, “I am happy to have been selected for the award; it’s in recognition of what our teachers are doing.”

“I have never thought of getting an award, but continued to work in the direction of what we are supposed to do as teachers,” Rather said. He says this prestigious award is given after making assessments at different levels. Rather says teachers get "a good salary and it is their suty to do their job to the best of their abilities."

Rather has joined the education department as a chemistry teacher in 1987. He taught chemistry at the Plus two level for 23 years. For the last 12 years, he has headed various educational institutions. This award comes as a tribute to his work as he is due to superannuate in March.

As Principal, Rather initiated and oversaw the renovation of the school building after it was gutted in a fire. “This is the school where a vast majority of the people from Baramulla studies and have become prominent figures in all sections of society”, he told Awaz-the Voice.

Mohammad Jabir in English class of his school

As Principal, Rather initiated and oversaw the renovation of the school building after it was gutted in a fire. “This is the school where a vast majority of the people from Baramulla studies and have become prominent figures in all sections of society”, he told Awaz-the Voice.

He said that many such people have been visiting their alma mater and are happy to see the renovated building.His tenure also saw improvements in the school library, renovation of the dysfunctional toilets, playing ground, etc.

On the other hand, Mohammad Jabir believes his selection for the award is for his unrelenting hard work and for providing all possible help to the students, particularly in the remote area of the region, which remains cut off from the rest of the world by road surface for winter months.

Jabir also teaches mathematics to students. He has an M.Phil degree in English. He is the first Ladakhi to top the Teacher Course of RIE, Chandigarh, Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching of English (PGCTE).

Principal Rather using telescope in school premises

Jabir strongly believes in creating a learning environment by strengthening the day-to-day enjoying activities of children. “I adopted different techniques of fun-away of learning in different subjects,” he says.