Delhi Principal Awadhesh Jha Wins National Teacher Award 2025

Breaking a four-year gap for the capital, Awadhesh Kumar Jha, principal of SKV Rohini Sector 17 and a Sanskrit teacher by training, has been named the sole recipient from Delhi of the prestigious National Teacher Award 2025. He will receive the honour from the President of India on September 5, joining 44 other awardees selected from among more than one crore schoolteachers nationwide.

A native of Bihar and alumnus of Delhi University’s Hindu College, Jha completed his BEd, MEd, and MPhil from DU’s Central Institute of Education before taking charge as head of the Rohini school in 2015. Since then, his leadership has transformed the institution into a hub of academic excellence: this year alone, 18 students cleared NEET and 13 cracked JEE (Mains).

Jha has gone beyond the classroom to create opportunities for his students. Partnering with PhysicsWallah’s Alakh Pandey under the Government of India’s Vidyanjali initiative, the school runs a free coaching centre. In collaboration with Paras Institute, he introduced CA Foundation coaching, enabling several students to qualify every year.

Determined to expand resources, he set up a 70-seat computer-enabled reading hall, open 365 days a year, and leveraged RBI’s CSR support to procure 100 computers and 40 printers. Donations also helped establish a junior science lab.

In the wake of the pandemic, Jha pioneered a “stress buster room” to support students’ mental health, alongside innovative initiatives like zero-waste citizen bank accounts, career mentoring sessions with industry veterans, and even a Freedom Fighters’ Park with 24 statues celebrating India’s independence heroes.

His efforts have earned the school recognition as one of Delhi’s Top 10 institutions for results by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Speaking on the award, Jha said:“I am very happy that my years of effort are being recognised. I dedicate this award to my students, teachers and my vice-principal, who supported me in all these endeavours.”