Mohammad Ayaz Raina was conferred with the National Teachers Award 2026 for carrying technology-driven education to the remote border regions of Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, bringing laurels to his district.
For more than three decades, Mohammad Ayaz Raina has been teaching generations of students, constantly using new methods to make learning more practical and accessible. On September 5, that journey took him from a government school in a remote border village of Dalhori in Rajouri to Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, where he received the National Teachers Award 2026 from the President of India, Droupadi Murmu.
Raina was among 48 teachers selected for the national honour this year and was the only teacher from Jammu and Kashmir to receive the award. “Going from Dalhori to Vigyan Bhawan to receive the award from the hands of the President of India was indeed a proud moment,” Raina told DNN24. For him, the award recognises his work bringing technology-driven education to remote regions and building digital skills among students and teachers.
Raina’s academic background is in Botany, but his contribution to education extends well beyond the subject. In Rajouri, he has worked for years to promote the use of computers, information and communication technology, smart classrooms, multimedia, digital content, virtual laboratories and online learning resources in schools. “Despite having a Botany background, from 2007 onwards, I worked hard on computer and information technology education,” Raina said.
His interest in technology began when computers were first introduced into school education in Jammu and Kashmir in the early 2000s. In 2003, Raina underwent a one-year computer training course organised by the Department of Education.
At the time, information technology and computers were being offered as the fifth optional subject. Raina, an NCERT-certified e-resource person, was transferred from one school to another to teach computer education. “I always tried to promote computer skills in my students because I knew it would be the future,” he said.
His work was not limited to teaching students how to operate computers. He also worked to create the infrastructure needed for digital learning. In Thanamandi, his village in Rajouri, Raina played a key role in establishing a functional computer laboratory. He mobilised 14 computers through the Indian Army’s Operation Sadbhavana. Six additional computers were later provided by the Directorate of School Education, Jammu, giving students in the remote area greater access to computers and digital learning. “Alongside teaching theory to students, I always believed it was necessary to develop practical skills in them,” said Raina.
Besides students, Raina has trained hundreds of teachers through the District Institute of Education and Training and NCERT programmes related to ICT. “Whatever skills I have, I try to develop the same in my colleagues and students,” he said. “I believe today’s world is technology-driven and we can’t turn away from it.”
In his classroom, Raina explains difficult concepts to his students through animations, simulations and videos. “The advantage is when students see something on screen, listen to it and see actions, it gets imprinted in their minds. It makes both teaching and learning easy,” said Raina.
But Raina does not see technology as a replacement for teachers. “Technology can’t replace a teacher, but a teacher should definitely use technology to upgrade teaching,” he said.
Raina’s work has also taken learning beyond the physical boundaries of the classroom. Since 2016, he has been associated with the Jammu and Kashmir Knowledge Network. Through the platform, he has organised online sessions on different subjects, through which students have interacted with experts, including Indian scientists based in the United States.
Raina has also created his own YouTube channel, where he uploads educational and informative videos and shares them with students and fellow teachers. For him, digital platforms have become another way of taking education beyond the physical boundaries of a classroom.
At the Government Higher Secondary School, Dalhori, where he is currently posted, Raina uses the natural surroundings as a “living laboratory.” He often takes students outside the classroom to teach them practically. “Our school is located in an area with rich biodiversity and a diverse natural environment,” Raina said. “I take full advantage of it to teach students how biodiversity works in real life. Students do not only read about a plant; they see it, they observe it, they learn from their surroundings.”
The national award, he said, has thrown the spotlight on a part of Jammu and Kashmir that is often hidden from national attention. “This award has reached a far-flung area. It will encourage students,” he said. He sees the recognition as significant for Rajouri. “This is the first time this award has reached district Rajouri, a border area,” he said.
Raina was previously the recipient of the National ICT Award in 2017 and the Jammu and Kashmir UT Best Teacher Award in 2021. He has received several honours and awards from educational and other organisations for his contribution to teaching, technology integration and community service.
Raina believes teachers have a responsibility that extends beyond completing a syllabus. “A teacher is like a lamp – someone who can bring positive change in society,” he said, urging teachers to perform their duties sincerely.
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