From Rs 60 a day to national award: Delhi teacher Suman Goel’s 22-year journey

Suman Goel began teaching for just Rs 60 a day in 2004 to help fund her college education. Twenty-two years later, the former student of a Delhi government school has been selected for the National Teachers’ Award 2026. Now a primary teacher at the same school, Goel has focused on foundational learning, inclusion and student well-being, supporting children from disadvantaged backgrounds and students with special needs. Her journey highlights how personal struggles can shape an impactful teaching career.