Chandralekha Mistry has received many honours during her career for her unique teaching methodology and commitment to education (File photo)
Chandralekha’s students come primarily from tribal and economically disadvantaged backgrounds
Chandralekha Damodar Mistry, a Grade-1 Biology teacher at Satyavati Soyru Angel Higher Secondary School in Mashem Lolim, Goa, is one of the 50 teachers honoured with the National Teacher Award 2024. For the past 24 years, she has shown unwavering dedication to teaching and education by travelling 50 kilometres every day to her school. Her long journey, instead of tiring her, inspires her to teach with even more passion.
Chandralekha’s students come primarily from tribal and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Many of these students are the first members of their families to attend the school, while some are from the fisherman community who travel from the Karnataka border to study under her guidance. To make learning more accessible and interesting, she has instituted unique teaching approaches, such as setting up a botanical garden on the school campus. This garden serves as a living laboratory, allowing children to connect with nature and study biology through hands-on activities that stimulate scientific curiosity.
Chandralekha’s enthusiasm for teaching has not diminished despite the three-hour commute every day. She spends her travel time planning classes and designing scientific projects. Her passion extends beyond the classroom. She often spends extra time developing educational materials to improve her students’ learning experiences. Her efforts have led her students to compete in several national science fairs.
Chandralekha Mistry has received numerous accolades during her career for her distinctive teaching methods and commitment to education. Notably, she received the Best Teacher award from the state in 2021. Despite these achievements, she remains humble and claims that her goal is the success and progress of her students rather than awards.
When the National Teacher Awards 2024 were announced, Mistry humbly said that he never worked to get recognition or accolades for his work. For him, teaching goes beyond the classroom, it requires dedication even after school hours to ensure his students’ success.
