Peleno Petenilhu’s quiet, steady work with disadvantaged learners in Nagaland reached a national stage on Teachers’ Day, when she received the National Teachers’ Award 2025 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, honouring leadership rooted in service and collaboration.
With more than two decades in classrooms, Petenilhu began at Government High School Seikhazou before moving to John Government Higher Secondary School, Viswema in 2014, widening academic guidance and student support across grades through consistent, hands-on mentorship.
She created “Each One Teach One,” where Class 12 students mentor juniors from underprivileged backgrounds, building confidence, empathy, and study skills for both mentors and mentees while fostering a supportive peer network.
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Her outreach extends beyond school grounds, addressing barriers that can push students out of the system through home visits, sponsoring admission fees, and arranging mobile phones for learners without access. These personal efforts aim to reduce dropouts and learning loss so all students can continue their education regardless of economic hurdles.
Petenilhu leads collaboration as president of the English Professional Learning Community in Kohima district, bringing teachers together to share strategies and improve classroom practice through steady, district-level engagement.
She contributes to digital learning by developing lesson plans for DIKSHA and e-content for the ABHYAAS Learning Management System, making structured materials easier to access for students and teachers.
Her sustained impact was recognised with the State Teacher Award in 2024, reflecting a durable focus on student success and teacher development across Nagaland’s schools. Taken together, peer mentoring, professional development leadership, and digital content creation show a multi-faceted approach that blends classroom care with community support and practical tools.
The National Teachers’ Awards are presented annually on September 5 and celebrate excellence across a vast system of about 9.8 million teachers in India, including 4.88 million in government schools and 3.54 million in private institutions, as reported by UDISE+ 2021–22.
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Being honoured among educators nationwide highlights the strength of her approach: peer mentoring, targeted financial and digital support, and district-level professional leadership that can be adapted in other contexts.
The New Delhi ceremony recognised 2025 awardees for service and contributions to the profession, marking national acknowledgement of practices centred on equity, leadership, and learning continuity. John Government Higher Secondary School Viswema, established on March 5, 1945 and regarded as the third oldest high school in Nagaland, adds deeper meaning to the moment for the institution and the wider educational community in the state.
