Dr. Heipor Uni Bang, Principal and Founder of KB Memorial Secondary School in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills, was honoured with the National Teachers’ Award 2025 on Teachers’ Day. The award ceremony took place at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, where President Droupadi Murmu felicitated 45 outstanding educators from across India. An academic and community leader, Dr. Bang began his teaching career in 2009 after completing an MSc in Botany from NEHU. He later earned a PhD in Environmental Management from William Carey University, with a thesis focused on solid waste management in East Jaintia Hills. Over the years, he has authored research papers in international journals, written Khasi-language textbooks for primary classes, and regularly integrates local knowledge into school learning materials.
In 2013, Dr. Bang founded KB Memorial Secondary School to provide affordable English-medium education in the region. Under his leadership, the school has excelled not only in academics but also in sports and cultural activities, finishing as runner-up in the State Subroto Mukherjee Cup (U-14 Boys) in 2023 and 2025. Beyond academics, Dr. Bang has actively contributed to the community, serving on the Juvenile Justice Board, participating in the Red Cross Society, and teaching at Thomas Jones Synod College. He has also introduced innovative methods like the flipped classroom model to encourage independent learning among students.
Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Dr. Bang said the award reflected the collective effort of his family, colleagues, and the education departments. He also called for increased support for private schools through grants, full implementation of the NEP, inclusion of Khasi in the Eighth Schedule, and more resources for children with special needs, emphasizing the need for equitable education in rural communities.