Two Bengal ITI Principals Honored with "Principal of the Year" Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education,

In a proud moment for West Bengal, two principals from government ITI colleges in the state received the prestigious "Principal of the Year" award at the Asia Education Conclave and Awards 2025 ceremony held in Mumbai today, Saturday, May 31st. Syed Mosharaf Hossain, Principal of Purbasthali-2 Govt. ITI, and Swastika Paul, Principal of Tehatta Govt. ITI, was felicitated for their exceptional contributions to the field of education, bringing their institutions to the forefront on an All-India platform.

This significant achievement is seen by the education fraternity as a fitting reply to criticisms regarding the state of technical education in West Bengal. Both government colleges have earned national recognition primarily by focusing on skill development for their students, along with multi-skilling them in various technical disciplines.

It is worth noting that the awards organized by the Asia Education Conclave aim to highlight quality, diversity, and innovation in the education sector. This All-India platform recognizes and honors top educational institutions, exemplary teachers, and other key personalities dedicated to the field of education. The recognition of two principals from government technical colleges in West Bengal with the "Principal of the Year" honor this year undoubtedly adds a new dimension to the event.

Syed Mosharaf Hossain, Principal of Purbasthali-2 Govt. ITI, holds a Diploma, B.Tech, and M.Tech degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering. He has received significant recognition for his innovative work, including being acknowledged in the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records for "Innovative women’s safety shoe device by a teen," receiving the "Young Scientist 2022" award from Jackhi Book of World Records, and being awarded the Best Innovation Award 2023 by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of West Bengal.

His proactive approach in adopting new programs for the overall development of students in his college, along with his constructive and contemporary teaching methods that integrate technology in education and prepare students with 21st-century skills, are cited as reasons for this esteemed award.

On the other hand, Swastika Paul, Principal of Tehatta Govt. ITI, also possesses B.Tech and M.Tech degrees in Electronics and Communication Engineering. Prior to becoming a principal, she was renowned for her innovative work in women's safety and also received the Best Innovation Award 2023 from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of West Bengal.

She developed an Arduino-based smart shoe for women's safety, which brought her widespread acclaim. After assuming the principalship at Tehatta Government ITI, she identified certain challenges among students, particularly their weaknesses in English and computer knowledge in a rural environment. In response, she initiated additional spoken English and computer classes, along with various developmental classes for the overall growth of the students. Her efforts have significantly enhanced the educational environment at Tehatta Govt. ITI.

Their modern initiatives, such as implementing digital classrooms, incorporating Metaverse technology, and introducing personality development classes, have genuinely transformed students' academic performance and future prospects. Their unwavering commitment to bridging the rural-urban educational gap and fostering student success has truly made them exceptional educators.

The awards were presented by Dr. Maurice Kenneth Dimmock, a UK-based global education consultant and World Bank project contributor, and Dr. Natasha Mehta, Head - Academic Research & Development at Alokstambh Education and author of 52 books.

Naturally, both Mr. Mosharaf and Ms. Swastika expressed their delight at this recognition. They are keen to further their work in the coming days, aiming to eliminate skill gaps among students and actively promote employment opportunities. They hope that these efforts will significantly contribute to reducing unemployment in the state.