Panaji, September 3, 2026: The Goa government has announced the names of nine distinguished educators who will be conferred with the CM-Vashistha Guru Puraskar 2025-26 in recognition of their exemplary contribution to the field of education.

The Directorate of Education has released the list of awardees ahead of the 65th Teachers’ Day celebration, scheduled to be held on September 5, 2026, at 11 am at the Institute Menezes Braganza Hall, Panaji.

The awardees will be felicitated at the hands of Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant during the State-level Teachers’ Day function.

The awards cover teachers and heads of institutions from primary, secondary and higher secondary education across North and South Goa.

Under the Primary Teacher Category, Eshwar Raghuvir Parab, Government Primary School Teacher at Government Primary School, Surla, Bicholim, has been selected from North Goa. Arati Ashok Kolambkar, Government Primary School Teacher at Government Primary School, Chavdi, Canacona, has been selected from South Goa.

Four educators have been selected under the Secondary Teacher Category. They are Nitin D. Naik, Physical Education Teacher at Shivajiraje High School, Kholpewada, Sal, Bicholim; Devendra B. Sathe of Dattaram Mantravadi Memorial High School, Mapusa; Prashant Tari, Special Educator at the Gujarati Samaj Educational Trust for the Handicapped Special School, Aquem, Margao; and Gourish R. Vernekar, Drawing Teacher at Shree Katyayani Baneshwar High School, Canacona.

In the High School Headmaster Category, the government has selected Narendra M. Naik, Headmaster of Government High School, Hankhane, Pernem, from North Goa, and Mable Maria Perpetua Vaz e DA Costa, Headmistress of Mae Dos Pobres High School, Nuvem, Salcete, from South Goa.

In the Higher Secondary Principal Category, Umesh P. Naik, Principal of Shri Shantadurga Higher Secondary School, Pirna, Bardez, has been selected for the State-level honour.

According to the Directorate of Education, all nine educators have been chosen for their meritorious and exemplary work in the education sector.

Awardees at a glance

1. Eshwar Raghuvir Parab – Government Primary School, Surla, Bicholim
2. Arati Ashok Kolambkar – Government Primary School, Chavdi, Canacona
3. Nitin D. Naik – Shivajiraje High School, Kholpewada, Sal, Bicholim
4. Devendra B. Sathe – Dattaram Mantravadi Memorial High School, Mapusa
5. Prashant Tari – Gujarati Samaj Educational Trust for the Handicapped Special School, Aquem, Margao
6. Gourish R. Vernekar – Shree Katyayani Baneshwar High School, Canacona
7. Narendra M. Naik – Government High School, Hankhane, Pernem
8. Mable Maria Perpetua Vaz e DA Costa – Mae Dos Pobres High School, Nuvem
9. Umesh P. Naik – Shri Shantadurga Higher Secondary School, Pirna, Bardez

The felicitation forms part of the State government’s Teachers’ Day programme aimed at recognising educators who have distinguished themselves through their service, commitment and contribution to Goa’s education system.