Dhanbad teacher Munmun Bhattacharya receives National Teachers' Award from President Murmu

It was a proud moment for Dhanbad and Jharkhand as teacher Munmun Bhattacharya was among 48 educators honoured with the National Teachers' Award by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Teachers' Day.

Bhattacharya, the in-charge headmistress of Government Middle School, Barmasia, Dhanbad, received a certificate of appreciation, a shawl and a cash award of Rs 50,000 from the President in recognition of her efforts to improve education and engage students despite limited resources.

At her school, Bhattacharya has sought to move beyond textbook-based learning by connecting students with their surroundings and everyday challenges. As part of this approach, students are being introduced to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with topics such as water conservation, energy saving, environmental protection and climate change incorporated into learning activities.

The school has also adopted low-cost teaching methods, using discarded materials and waste items to create useful learning aids. The initiative aims to encourage creativity among students while demonstrating that effective learning does not always require expensive resources.

Keeping children connected with education remains a challenge in Dhanbad, a major mining region. Bhattacharya said health-related problems and school dropouts remain concerns in the area, making it important to ensure that children attend school regularly and remain aware of their educational and career opportunities.

She has also focused on retaining girls in education. According to Bhattacharya, while enrolment of girls is encouraging in the initial classes, continuing education becomes more challenging as they move into secondary and higher secondary levels. She believes sustained efforts are needed to ensure that girls remain in school and complete their education.

Bhattacharya said ensuring quality education and a better future for children cannot be the responsibility of schools alone. Teachers and parents need to work together to create an environment that encourages children to continue their education and develop confidence about their future.

Her work at a government school in Dhanbad has now received recognition at the national level. The National Teachers' Award is not only an acknowledgement of Bhattacharya's efforts but also highlights the contribution of educators working to improve learning outcomes despite resource constraints.