From Rs 60 a day to national award: Delhi teacher Suman Goel's 22-year journey
Suman Goel, a Delhi government school teacher, has been selected for the 2026 National Teachers’ Award. Her career, which began with a modest salary while she was still a student, is recognized for her focus on student well-being and foundational learning.
Why it matters
The story highlights the impact of dedicated educators in under-resourced communities and the importance of holistic teaching approaches.
In 2004, Suman Goel returned to the Delhi government school where she had once studied, but this time she stood on the other side of the classroom. She was pursuing college and began teaching for just Rs 60 a day, using the modest income to support her education. More than two decades later, that same school has become the place where she built her career as a primary teacher.Goel, now 41, has been selected for the National Teachers’ Award 2026 for her work at GSKV Pooth Kalan in Rohini. Her journey from a financially difficult childhood to one of the country's top teaching honours has been shaped by an approach that goes beyond textbooks, with a strong focus on children's well-being, inclusion and foundational learning.The school where her own journey beganGoel had topped Class 12 from the same school in 2002.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in