Caves As Classrooms, Artefacts As Lessons: How A Kargil Teacher Is Rethinking Social Science Education

Last Updated:September 07, 2026, 12:50 IST

A teacher in Kargil, Ladakh, is taking Social Science lessons beyond the textbook by turning caves, local artefacts and community life into learning resources.

The Ministry said Kamal’s work demonstrates how local heritage, livelihoods and community life can become part of the learning process. (Image: X)

Mohd Mustafa Kamal of Government Middle School Zgangjing, Sankoo, Kargil, has been recognised by the Ministry of Education for his contribution to experiential, contextual and technology-enabled Social Science education in remote and resource-constrained classrooms. He was conferred the National Teachers’ Award 2026 on September 5.

According to the Ministry of Education, Kamal has been using the local environment as a teaching resource since 2011. His initiatives include the “Cave Classroom”, “Museum Classroom” and “Classroom Parliament”, designed to connect classroom learning with students’ surroundings and everyday experiences.

Through the Cave Classroom, local historical sites and cave shelters are used to help students understand history and heritage. The Museum Classroom uses local artefacts and replicas as teaching aids, while the Classroom Parliament allows students to engage with civics and contemporary issues through discussion and debate.

Kamal has also incorporated digital tools into his teaching, including School Bhuvan, Google Earth and Stellarium, along with interactive platforms such as Kahoot and Quizizz. He has additionally contributed digital lessons through the government’s PM eVIDYA initiative.

“Since 2011, he has transformed local surroundings into learning resources through innovative approaches such as the Cave Classroom, Museum Classroom and Classroom Parliament, connecting history, geography, economics and civics with local heritage, livelihoods and community life. He has integrated School Bhuvan, Google Earth, Stellarium, Kahoot and Quizizz, and contributed digital lessons through PM eVIDYA,” the Ministry posted on X.

The National Teachers’ Awards recognise teachers for their commitment and contribution to improving the quality of education and enriching the lives of their students. A total of 48 teachers were conferred the awards, of which 26 were men and 22 were women. The awardees were from different types of educational institutions including Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Sainik Schools, Eklavya Model Residential Schools, PM SHRI schools and other institutions across the country.

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Who received the National Teachers’ Award 2026 for innovative social science education in Kargil?

Mohd Mustafa Kamal of Government Middle School Zgangjing, Sankoo, Kargil, was conferred the National Teachers’ Award 2026 on September 5 for his contributions to experiential, contextual, and technology-enabled social science education. He was recognized for transforming local surroundings into learning resources since 2011.

What innovative teaching methods did Mohd Mustafa Kamal implement in Kargil classrooms?

Mohd Mustafa Kamal implemented innovative methods such as the “Cave Classroom,” “Museum Classroom,” and “Classroom Parliament” to connect learning with students’ surroundings. He also integrated digital tools like School Bhuvan, Google Earth, Stellarium, Kahoot, and Quizizz, and contributed to PM eVIDYA.

How did Mohd Mustafa Kamal utilize military bunkers for education?

Mohd Mustafa Kamal transformed abandoned military bunkers, originally built during the Kargil War, into a prehistoric lab for students. He recognized their cave-like structure and repurposed them to make learning more engaging and connected to the local environment.

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