SRINAGAR: Wasim Ahmad Lone, head of Government Middle School Durhama in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, has been invited by the President of India as a special guest for the Independence Day celebrations on August 15 in recognition of his contribution to strengthening government school education.
Lone, who heads the institution in the DH Pora zone, has been invited to the President’s ‘At Home’ reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi.
The invitation follows his nearly two decades of service at the school, where his colleagues said sustained efforts helped increase student enrolment from around 10-12 to more than 120.
Teachers and local residents credited Lone with improving enrolment and attendance and rebuilding confidence in government education through regular engagement with students, parents and the wider community.
Sabzar Ahmad, a teacher at the school, said Lone had worked at the institution for nearly two decades without seeking recognition.
“This invitation is an honour not only for him but also for the Education Department,” Ahmad said.
He said Lone personally followed up cases of student absenteeism and would visit families to understand the reasons behind a child’s absence and encourage regular attendance.
Ahmad said Lone’s approach focused on consistent work rather than publicity and described his contribution as an example for other teachers.
Residents also said Lone regularly went beyond his official duties, including personally participating in the upkeep and cleanliness of the school premises to provide students with a better learning environment.
Lone said he was pleased when he received the call informing him about the invitation, describing the recognition as the result of years of work.
He said the honour should be shared with the school’s teachers and students, who had contributed to the institution’s progress.
Lone also stressed that teachers needed to have confidence in government schools if they expected parents to place similar trust in them. He pointed out that two members of the school staff had enrolled their own children there.
Calling teaching a nation-building responsibility, Lone urged teachers to remain committed and sincere in their work despite their other responsibilities.
