Shillong Sept 5: Accomplished academic Dr Heipor Uni Bang from East Jaintia Hills district was conferred the National Teachers’ Award 2025 along with 44 other outstanding educators by President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on the occasion of Teachers’ Day.
Dr Bang, Principal and founder of KB Memorial Secondary School in East Jaintia Hills, was recognised for his remarkable contributions to education, environmental research, and community service.
Beginning his career in 2009 after completing his MSc in Botany from NEHU, Dr Bang taught at Little Flower Secondary School, Khliehriat, and Rymbai Presbyterian Higher Secondary School.
In 2013, he established KB Memorial Secondary School to meet local demand for an affordable English-medium institution.
The school, under his leadership, has excelled academically and in extracurricular activities, including securing runner-up positions in the State Subroto Mukherjee Cup (Under-14 Boys) in 2023 and 2025. The school has also dominated district-level competitions in debates, quizzes, essays, and cultural events.
Dr Bang earned his PhD in Environmental Management from William Carey University with research on solid waste management in East Jaintia Hills.
He has authored several research papers in reputed journals, written Khasi-language textbooks up to Class IV, and regularly updates general knowledge resources for his students.
Beyond teaching, Dr Bang has served as a member of the Juvenile Justice Board, Khliehriat, a member of the Red Cross Society, and faculty at Thomas Jones Synod College, Jowai.
He has also pioneered innovative teaching practices such as the flipped classroom model, promoting independent learning and interactive problem-solving.
Expressing gratitude, Dr Bang said: “This award is a recognition of the collective effort of my family, my colleagues, and the education departments of the district and state. I am deeply grateful to God for guiding me to choose teaching as a profession and to serve society in my own small way.”
Dr Bang, as an educationist, urged greater support for private schools through grants-in-aid for infrastructure and salaries, full implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule, and enhanced resources for Children with Special Needs.
He stressed the need to ensure quality education reaches rural and economically weaker communities.
