Government Senior Primary School teacher Ashok Tekkatte of Hesakutturu in Kundapur taluk has been selected for the 2026 state‑level Best Teacher award. The accolade will be conferred during the Teacher’s Day ceremony in Bangalore later this year.
With a teaching career spanning 24 years, Tekkatte has driven comprehensive student development, cultural enrichment and innovative pedagogy that have elevated his school to national prominence. He pioneered the first English language lab in a government primary school in Karnataka and introduced daily spoken English classes from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. beginning in 2015.
In Udupi district he launched the inaugural Subject Wise Classroom system, integrating activity‑based, art‑infused and child‑centred methods. A YouTube channel supports English learning, while extracurricular offerings include chess, Bharatanatyam and a functional school parliament.
Beyond his own classroom, Tekkatte serves as a resource trainer for teachers across more than 50 government and aided schools, and has guided over 300 platforms in memory‑skill demonstrations. He conducts quiz master sessions for Bengaluru Polytechnic students under the Reserve Bank of India initiative and presented a paper at the RIESI Bangalore International English Conference.
Professional development credentials include a US Government‑sponsored programme from the University of Arizona. He also founded the “Namma Inchara” school newspaper, publishing over a hundred articles and poems, and actively participates in literary gatherings as founder‑president of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat Koteshwara Hobli.
Recognition of his service includes the 2015 district Best Teacher award, the 2026‑27 national finalist nomination among six teachers, and multiple Rotary Club honours such as the Nation Builder and People of Action awards. His school achieved an A‑grade rating and secured fourth place in the Karnataka State Quality Assessment, a distinction shared by only five schools statewide.
During the COVID‑19 pandemic Tekkatte launched the “Happy English” web series, delivering 52 weeks of continuous online training. He also contributes literature for state radio programmes like Chukki Chinna and Chinnara Chukki, and creates visual art ranging from whirl and collage to sand art and calligraphy. Currently he holds the secretary post for the Bharat Jnan Vigyan Samiti Kundapura unit.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Kundapra