Ms Sufeena Bano, a renowned multi-awardee and govt Teacher educator from North Kashmir’s Sopore town in Baramulla district , has earned national recognition by securing a place among the Top Ten National TLM Champions at the National TLM League 2025, bringing laurels to the Directorate of School Education, Kashmir (DSEK) and the entire Union Territory.
The National TLM League 2025 was organised through The Teacher App, a digital EdTech platform by the Bharti Airtel Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Government of India, Directorates of Education, and other supporting institutions.
The nationwide initiative aimed to promote innovation in teaching-learning materials (TLMs). The competition followed a three-tier evaluation process, receiving over 5,000 entries from across the country. In the initial screening, 600 TLMs were shortlisted for Round One, followed by 200 entries in Round Two. From these, 36 trailblazing TLMs were selected for the final stage, culminating in the selection of the Top Ten National TLM Champions.
The award ceremony was held at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi, on January 16, 2026. Winners were felicitated with awards, cash prizes, and supplementary gifts. The organisers also arranged air travel, accommodation at Urban Oasis – New Millennium, and high-quality hospitality for the awardees.
The event was graced by distinguished dignitaries including Lt Col Jitendra Verma (OSD, Education & Skill Development, NITI Aayog), Shri Manoj Kumar Srivastava (Director – Training, CBSE), Shri Arun Kapur (Director, Pallavan Learning Systems), and Shri Rakesh Bharti Mittal (Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises and Bharti Airtel Foundation).
Speaking to Current matters , Ms Sufeena Bano said that the recognition further strengthens her belief in teacher-led innovation and motivates her to continue designing meaningful, engaging, and inclusive learning experiences, particularly for students in underserved contexts. She expressed her gratitude to Shri Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel Foundation, for spearheading such innovation-catalyst initiatives and conveyed her hope that this national movement would continue to inspire and empower innovative teachers across the country.
This is not her first award but also She was honoured with the “Best Teacher 2023 Award” at the Union Territory level by the Department of Education, presented at a ceremony in Srinagar with the Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor as a chief guest.
In addition to receiving the prestigious TLM Champion title, Ms Sufeena Bano was also honoured as a panelist during a special panel discussion held as part of the event, highlighting her contribution to innovative pedagogy at the national level.
Her achievement has been widely appreciated by the education fraternity and is seen as a significant milestone for educators from Jammu and Kashmir on a national platform.
Ms. Sufeena Bano is a highly respected and Multi Awardee educator of Jammu & Kashmir and a Resource Person from District Baramulla. She is a Content Creator, Mentor Teacher, TLM Innovator, Environmental and Social Campaigner, Community Mobiliser, and committed Social Activist.
