IN THE SPOTLIGHT

NECTAR recognises and appreciates dynamic stakeholders of the project who contribute to enhanced learning environments, improved teaching-learning practices, efficient school management, and community partnership. In this edition, we spotlight a teacher for her dedication and contributions to school improvement.

The Inspiring Journey of Head Teacher Inaholi Sumi

Inaholi Sumi, a native of Aghunato, joined GMS Aghunato under Zunheboto district as a Primary Teacher in 2016 and has been serving as the Head Teacher at the school since 2024. From the time she joined the school, she has devoted her efforts, resources, and time to the wellbeing of the school, its students, parents, and the wider community.

A year into her time at the school, she and her colleague Kanoli Zhimo, a Science GT, decided to improve the ambience for learning. They took the initiative to beautify the school by personally contributing and whitewashing the entire school. She also makes an effort to arrive at the school early each day to open the classrooms and the office and to ring the school bell.

Inaholi has taken it upon herself to maintain the habits of personal hygiene among students. Many students study in Aghunato away from their families, and some serve as domestic help. As a result, many are unaware of basic personal hygiene practices. Recognising this, she personally educates them on hygiene and she also checks the students’ shoes at the school entrance to ensure they are clean and polished. When a student shows up with dirty shoes, they are made to use the shoe polish and brush that are kept at the school. She also regularly buys shampoo sachets for students in need.

On one occasion, when a large group of students was affected by lice infestation, she mobilised fellow teachers to help. Together, they oiled the students’ hair, used nit combs to remove lice, and later ensured proper hair washing. The school also regularly checks and trims students’ nails.

Along with her colleagues, Inaholi regularly visits prospective students’ homes to enhance enrolment. She motivates parents to encourage neighbours and friends to enrol their children in the school. Her efforts bore fruit, with sixteen new students enrolling this year due to her personal rapport with the community. To better understand her students’ living conditions, she and her colleagues conduct annual home visits to each student. During these visits, they contribute and provide basic necessities such as rations and stationery. They have also distributed mattresses and blankets, donated by teachers, to students in need.

With the aim of instilling a sense of keeping one’s environment clean, Inaholi takes her students to the local ground to clean it up after events like Republic Day, Independence Day, and others. She also strongly believes in the all-round development of students and actively promotes co-curricular activities such as nature walks, fancy dress competitions, and cultural programmes. During one nature walk, coincidentally on her birthday, she sponsored transportation for students to the trek’s starting point and provided them with lunch.

On Bagless Days, students are taught skills such as crocheting and paper bag making. She and her colleagues identified students with a special interest in crocheting and continues to mentor them throughout the year. Students have learned to make socks, wristbands, and hats. They have also made dustbins from carton boxes for use in the school.

At the start of each academic year, Inaholi organises a brief prayer gathering by inviting a church leader to pray for the students, teachers, and the year. Believing that Teachers’ Day and Children’s Day deserve meaningful celebration, she ensures well-planned programmes with meals and gifts, which she generously funds since becoming the Head Teacher.

To encourage students to return the following year, she ensures the last day of school is memorable, with teachers lining up at the gate to bid farewell to students. She proudly shares that some students do not want the school to close for winter break because they enjoy coming to school.

As many students are from out of town, their parents are not always able to meet their immediate needs. During these times, she and her mother, a retired school teacher, provided essentials like rice, firewood, bedding, and utensils to students while informing parents about their wellbeing.

Throughout the Performance Incentive Grants programme of NECTAR, she personally oversaw developmental activities, monitored work progress, and even provided food for workers while working alongside them. She draws inspiration and motivation from her mother, whose dedication as a teacher deeply influenced her. Today, she embodies the same commitment and believes that her service will bring blessings to her students and family. When asked about her message to fellow teachers across the state, she said, “Work is worship. If all teachers imbibe and understand this, schools will progress and be blessed.”

She also highlighted the contribution of her colleagues, stating

“The progress of a school is never the work of an individual; it is shaped by the shared commitment of its teachers. I am thankful to all my colleagues who consistently go beyond their assigned duties for the well-being of our students, extend support for new initiatives, and stand with school leadership during times of change. And I am hopeful that this team spirit will continue because by supporting one another, communicating openly, and aligning our efforts to common goals, we create a learning environment where everyone thrives.”

Nominator: Aketoli S. Sumi, ToT Zunheboto, Zunheboto