Bhubaneswar: Headmaster of Government High School at Alipingal in Jagatsinghpur district, Padaraj Umakanta Nayak, who has been experimenting with unconventional ways to make learning, science in particular, meaningful and keep children connected with their community, has been selected for National Teachers Award 2026.Nayak is among 48 teachers from across the country selected by the Department of School Education and Literacy under ministry of education. The teachers will receive the award from President Droupadi Murmu on Sept 5, the Teachers Day.Nayak, who joined the teaching profession as an assistant teacher at Marichpur High School, Baramundali, in 2004, was transferred to Government High School, Alipingal, in 2016. He took charge as its headmaster in July this year.With the school spread over just 25 decimals of land and without a playground, one of his biggest challenges was to generate interest in mathematics and science, and reduce prolonged absence among students. As a science teacher, every year Nayak encourages students to identify problems in their locality and develop prototypes to address them. So far, his students have developed more than 50 prototypes, with efforts also made to secure patents. “One of my students has received a patent from the Government of India for a low-cost automatic plate-washing machine. Another student invention, a staple stopper, has been filed for provisional patent protection. My students have participated in one international, four national, four zonal and eight state-level events related to innovation,” he said.Nayak has also introduced a community-based research initiative called ‘Mo gaon mo maa’ (My village, my mother) to help students develop a research-oriented mindset from the secondary level. Under the initiative, students visit their villages, interact with residents, identify local problems and prepare research papers proposing scientific solutions. Their projects include finding solutions to irrigation problems in Alipingal and addressing pollution caused by foam plates used at local markets.Another initiative, ‘Asa bulijiba gaon hata ku’ (Let’s visit our village market), brings the experience of a rural marketplace into the school. “A village market is recreated on the school campus every year, with students acting as sellers while others, including teachers and members of the school management committee, become consumers. Through the activity, students learn mathematical calculations,” he said.He also invites grandparents to the school every week, allowing them to narrate stories to students and recreate the traditional bond between grandparents and grandchildren. His concept of ‘Learning from community’ takes students outside the classroom to interact with local potters, blacksmiths and carpenters. The idea is to expose children to traditional skills and knowledge while strengthening the relationship between the school and community, he said.