The Announcement: Spotlight on Dedication in Indian School Education
- Date and Platform: Revealed on November 21, 2025, through an official CISCE press release, highlighting the board’s commitment to recognizing grassroots excellence.
- Award Overview: The Derozio Awards, instituted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), celebrate educators’ contributions to primary, middle, secondary, senior secondary levels, and educational leadership.
- Prize Structure: Each recipient receives a 24-gram gold medal, a silver-engraved citation plaque, a scroll, and Rs 1 lakh in cash, symbolizing national appreciation for sustained impact.
This year’s selection underscores CISCE’s mission to foster innovative teaching amid evolving educational landscapes, drawing from a rigorous evaluation of nominations across its affiliated schools. As a cornerstone of CISCE’s initiatives since the board’s founding in 1958, the awards honor the spirit of Henry Louis Vivian Derozio, the 19th-century reformer who championed rational inquiry and social progress in education. Chief Executive and Secretary Joseph Emmanuel remarked, “This year’s awardees shine with extraordinary dedication, bold innovation, and deep human impact. Our rigorous evaluation reaffirmed the remarkable educational transformation unfolding across CISCE schools.”
The Honorees: Profiles of Transformative Leadership and Teaching
- Shinoj Kizhakkemuriyil: Principal, St Antony’s School, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh—recognized for pioneering holistic curricula and community outreach programs that integrate faith-based values with modern skill-building.
- Priti Sinha: Principal, Gulmohar High School, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand—lauded for advancing holistic student development, including mindfulness integration and STEM equity initiatives.
- Seena Joseph: Principal, Auxilium Nava Jyoti School, Kerala—commended for fostering inclusive environments in rural settings, emphasizing gender-sensitive education and environmental stewardship.
- Kusum Uniyal: Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) in Science, Jyoti Vidyalaya, Joshimath, Uttarakhand—celebrated for innovative science pedagogy that bridges classroom learning with Himalayan ecological challenges.
These four educators, spanning principals and classroom stalwarts, exemplify diverse excellence—from urban innovation in Ghaziabad to resilient teaching in Uttarakhand’s high-altitude terrains. Shinoj Kizhakkemuriyil, a Franciscan priest, has been pivotal in transforming St Antony’s into a model for ethical leadership, earning acclaim for programs that nurture emotional intelligence alongside academics. Priti Sinha, fresh off the 2025 National Sri Sri Award for Best Teacher (East Zone), has elevated Gulmohar High School through value-based education, boosting student well-being and academic outcomes. Seena Joseph and Kusum Uniyal represent the unsung heroes of peripheral regions, with Joseph’s work at Auxilium promoting equitable access and Uniyal’s experiments making science relatable to disaster-prone communities. Their collective stories highlight how individual passion drives systemic change in CISCE’s 2,600+ affiliated institutions.
Award Ceremony and Presentation: A Gathering of Educational Visionaries
- Event Details: Scheduled for November 22, 2025, during the Association of Schools for the Indian School Certificate’s (ASISC) School Heads’ Meet in Chandigarh.
- Chief Guest: Former Supreme Court Judge and ex-Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, Justice Vikramjit Sen, who will present the awards, adding judicial gravitas to the educational tribute.
- Significance: The ceremony serves as a platform for networking among 500+ school leaders, fostering discussions on NEP 2020 implementation and pedagogical innovation.
This high-profile event not only bestows honors but also amplifies the winners’ voices, with past ceremonies featuring global dignitaries like the President of Mauritius in 2016. It reinforces the awards’ role in motivating the educator community, where recipients often share best practices through CISCE workshops.
Historical Context and Selection Process: Legacy of the Derozio Awards
- Origins: Established by CISCE to commemorate Derozio’s legacy of enlightened education, the awards began as a means to “honour and motivate” teachers for human enrichment beyond rote learning.
- Eligibility: Open to CISCE-affiliated school principals, teachers, and leaders with at least five years of service, focusing on transformative contributions in diverse settings.
- Nomination Procedure: Schools or peers submit forms via the CISCE website (cisce.org), including endorsements, portfolios of achievements, and impact evidence; evaluated by an independent panel on innovation, inclusivity, and outcomes.
- Evolution: From a handful of recipients in early years to annual national honors, with 2025 emphasizing post-pandemic resilience and digital integration.
The process ensures meritocracy, with applications scrutinized for tangible impacts like student retention rates or community programs. Over decades, the awards have spotlighted over 100 educators, influencing policies like competency-based assessments in ICSE curricula.
