A science teacher at Government Model High School, Maloya Colony, who turned a school hall into a three-dimensional dome theatre to make space and science lessons more interactive, has been selected for the National Teachers Award 2026.
Ravi Kumar Jaiswal is among 48 teachers selected for the award by the Department of School Education and Literacy. Jaiswal said he learnt about his selection from a colleague who had seen the list earlier on Friday. He later received an email confirming his selection. The official list identifies him as a teacher at Government Model High School, Maloya Colony, Chandigarh.
One of Jaiswal’s key innovations has been the dome theatre at the school. He said students would often tell him they wanted to visit Science City in Kapurthala, which prompted him to create a similar experience within the school.
“I got the dome theatre made in my school at first, and later now it has been made in six different government schools in Chandigarh,” he said.
The dome theatre was created inside a school hall using tins and thermocol. Students are shown videos and images related to space and other scientific subjects on the three-dimensional dome, making lessons more immersive and interactive.
Jaiswal credited the Chandigarh Education Department for supporting his innovations.
“The Education Department of Chandigarh has helped me in taking my innovations forward, so the credit goes to Education Department of Chandigarh, due to which I have received this award,” he said.
Jaiswal, who studied in Chandigarh, has also supported students financially whenever they have required assistance. He said two of his former students are now pursuing PhD programmes at Panjab University, Chandigarh.
At the Maloya school, he has also set up a weather station where students can observe weather readings and use a rain gauge. His students have participated in science exhibitions at the national level, with 20 of them bringing laurels to the school, he said. One of his students also travelled to Japan last year as part of a science exchange programme.
For Jaiswal, his approach to teaching is partly rooted in his own experiences as a student.
“I only think what got left behind while I was studying, the things that I couldn’t do, I want to help other students as much as I can, so that there is no hurdle in their study,” he said.
The National Teachers Awards 2026 list includes teachers from states and Union Territories across the country. Jaiswal is the awardee from Chandigarh. The awardees include teachers from government schools as well as other school systems.
Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More
