Celebrating excellence in education

Nepal Education Award - 2026 -

Honouring the educators, institutions, and innovators who are shaping the future of learning across Nepal.

September 18-20, 2026
Soaltee Hotel, Kathmandu
Award Categories
Submit Nomination About the Award
A Legacy of Recognising Excellence

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”

John Dewey
About the Award

A Legacy of Recognising Excellence

credible recognition, transparent nominations, and a memorable awards ceremony

For fourteen years, Nepal Education Award has served as Nepal's most distinguished platform for celebrating transformative contributions to education. From remote village classrooms to premier universities, we honour those who illuminate the path of knowledge. This year's theme — Roots and Wings — celebrates educators who ground students in strong values while giving them the freedom to soar.

340+

Over three hundred and forty educators, institutions, and innovators recognised since the program began.

77

Nominations and recognition spanning all 77 districts of Nepal.

18+

More than eighteen years of credible, independent education recognition in Nepal.

Recognition Tracks

Award Categories

Categories are organized across institutions, educators, and innovation initiatives.
01

Best Vice-Chancellor of the Year

Prof. Dr. Nanda Bahadur Singh, VC, Mid-West University

02

Promising Registrar of the Year

Prof. Dr. Dipak Bahadur Bhandari, Registrar, Pokhara University

03

Promising Vice-Chancellor of the Year

Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa, VC, Kathmandu University

04

Best Registrar of the Year

Dr. Tilak Ram Acharya, Registrar, Lumbini Buddhist University

View All Categories
Meet the Nominees
Now Announcing

Meet the Nominees

After an independent review, these educators and institutions have been nominated for Nepal Education Award 2026.

Nepal Education Award is proud to announce the nominees for the 2026 edition, to be celebrated at the grand ceremony in Kathmandu.
A total of 302 institutions and individuals submitted applications for consideration. After a thorough evaluation, 82 outstanding candidates have been nominated across all award categories.
These finalists will be honoured for their commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and student empowerment. The list of nominees is presented below.
Amardeep Mandal

Amardeep Mandal

Group Head, Marketing

The British College

Amba Datt Joshi

Amba Datt Joshi

Principal

Global College of Management

Anil Kaspal

Anil Kaspal

Founder Principal

Modern School & College

Anita Parajuli Adhikari

Anita Parajuli Adhikari

Vice Principal

Shree Ratna Jyoti Secondary School

Bishnu Prasad Sharma

Bishnu Prasad Sharma

Academic Director

Kathmandu Model College

Deepak Raj Joshi

Deepak Raj Joshi

Head of Innovation

Trinity International College

Maya Gurung

Maya Gurung

Lead Educator

Himalayan WhiteHouse College

Priya Shrestha

Priya Shrestha

STEM Program Coordinator

GEMS Institute of Higher Education

View All Nominees
How It Works

The Nomination Journey

A clear path from nomination through final recognition.
1

Submit Nomination

Complete the online form with supporting documentation and references.

Home Nomination Journey
2

Initial Screening

Our team reviews submissions for eligibility and completeness.

Home Nomination Journey
3

Jury Deliberation

An independent panel evaluates shortlisted nominees against criteria.

Home Nomination Journey
4

Awards Ceremony

Winners are announced at the gala ceremony in Kathmandu.

Home Nomination Journey

Program Flow

Event Schedule

A focused program of inspiration, recognition, and collaboration across Nepal's education ecosystem.
12:00 AM

Opening Ceremony

Welcome address by the Chairperson and keynote on Digital Synergy.

12:00 AM

Panel: Digital Governance

Discussion on technology-driven governance reforms and public service delivery.

12:00 AM

Workshop: Inclusive Digitalization

Hands-on workshop exploring strategies for reaching underserved communities.

12:00 AM

Panel: Digital Economy

Exploring entrepreneurship, fintech, and digital trade opportunities.

12:00 AM

Closing & Networking

Publication launch, partnership announcements, and networking reception.

9:00 AM

Registration & Welcome

Check-in, collect event materials, and meet fellow attendees over coffee.

Main Lobby
5:45 PM

Jury Chair Address

The jury frames the review process, this year's criteria, and why the selected work matters to Nepal's education landscape.

Grand Ballroom
7:00 PM

Grand Laureate Citations

The marquee award segment reveals category winners and institutional stories with formal citation notes.

Grand Ballroom
8:30 PM

Gala Dinner & Laureate Networking

Educators, media, institutional leaders, and partners connect around finalist stories and celebration moments.

Garden Terrace
10:00 AM

Laureate Case Presentation Series

Selected winners unpack the systems, strategies, and evidence behind their work.

Learning Forum
1:30 PM

Partner Roundtable & Media Interviews

Education partners, journalists, and institutional leaders discuss how to scale and amplify recognized practices.

Partner Lounge
4:00 PM

Winner Portfolio Walkthrough

Guests revisit standout projects, institutional stories, and finalist materials in a curated showcase format.

Showcase Hall
11:00 AM

Recognition Brunch

A closing gathering for laureates, partners, and invited guests to connect beyond the award stage.

Terrace Pavilion
1:00 PM

Future Collaboration Session

Partners and education leaders discuss next-step commitments, collaboration opportunities, and sector visibility for laureates.

Strategy Lounge
Who Can Apply

Eligibility Criteria

Nepal Education Award is open to all educators, institutions, and individuals actively contributing to Nepal's educational landscape. Nominations may be self-submitted or proposed by a third party.
  • 01

    Nepal-Based Operations

    Nominees must be actively working within the Nepali education system at the time of nomination.

  • 02

    Minimum 3 Years' Experience

    Candidates must have at least three years of continuous service or operation in their field.

  • 03

    Demonstrated Impact

    Clear, measurable evidence of positive impact on students, communities, or the education system.

  • 04

    No Previous Lifetime Award

    Past recipients of the Lifetime Achievement award are not eligible for other categories.

  • 05

    Supporting Documentation

    All nominations must include at least two letters of support from independent sources.

  • 06

    Legal Compliance

    Institutions must be legally registered and operating per Nepal's education regulations.

The Panel

Distinguished Jury Members

Education leaders and sector specialists guiding the review process.
Dr. Anita Sharma

Dr. Anita Sharma

Jury Chair
Tribhuvan University
Dr. Priya Koirala

Dr. Priya Koirala

Early Childhood Dev.
UNICEF Nepal
Ms. Sunita Rai

Ms. Sunita Rai

Community Education
NCED, Ministry of Education
Prof. Rajesh Thapa

Prof. Rajesh Thapa

STEM Education
KU School of Science
Hall of Fame

Past Laureates

Distinguished educators and institutions whose work continues to shape learning outcomes across Nepal.
Ram Prasad Adhikari
Lifetime Achievement

Ram Prasad Adhikari

Recognized for decades of service in strengthening public education access and mentoring generations of school leaders.

Maya Tamang
Educator of the Year

Maya Tamang

Honoured for student-centered teaching methods and community-led classroom improvement.

Budhanilkantha School
School of the Year

Budhanilkantha School

Recognized for academic excellence, student welfare, and sustained institutional leadership.

Himal Learning Lab
Digital Learning Pioneer

Himal Learning Lab

Awarded for expanding digital classroom access and teacher training in underserved districts.

Sita Karki Foundation
Literacy Champion

Sita Karki Foundation

Celebrated for community reading programs and adult literacy outreach across multiple provinces.

Voices

What Laureates Say

Laureates and partners on how credible recognition changes education work.

Receiving this award was the most profound validation of two decades of quiet dedication. It reminded me why I chose to teach in the first place.
Prem Bahadur Shrestha Educator of the Year, 2023
The recognition changed how our community perceived our school. Enrolment rose by 40% the following year. It was transformative in every sense.
Sita Karki School of the Year, 2022
Being nominated alongside such distinguished colleagues made me realise the strength of our educational community. I am honoured beyond words.
Nabin Lama Community Impact Award, 2023

Sponsors

Our Sponsors

Partner organisations supporting education visibility and sector collaboration.

Committee

Our Team

Organizers, jury members, and advisors guiding Nepal Education Award from nomination to ceremony.
Anil Thapa

Organizing Committee

Anil Thapa

Leads communications, media partnerships, and public visibility.

Deepak Shrestha

Deepak Shrestha

Organizing Committee

Oversees venue, guest flow, logistics, and production details.

Priya Adhikari

Priya Adhikari

Organizing Committee

Builds sponsor, partner, and institutional relationships.

Rajesh Kumar Sharma

Rajesh Kumar Sharma

Organizing Committee

Former Secretary of Education, Nepal. Leads the awards strategy, jury coordination, and partner governance.

Sunita Rai

Sunita Rai

Organizing Committee

Manages nominations, participant communication, and ceremony coordination.

Dr. Binod Khanal

Dr. Binod Khanal

Advisors

Former Minister of Education, Nepal.

Dr. Sarita Poudel

Dr. Sarita Poudel

Advisors

UNESCO Education Specialist.

Rajan Maharjan

Rajan Maharjan

Advisors

CTO, Global EdTech Solutions.

Dr. Ramesh Pokharel

Dr. Ramesh Pokharel

Award Jury

Vice Chancellor, Tribhuvan University.

Prof. Meena Gurung

Prof. Meena Gurung

Award Jury

Director, National Center for Educational Development.

Suresh Pant

Suresh Pant

Award Jury

CEO, Digital Learning Initiatives.

Meet the Full Team

Media

Recognition and media coverage

Coverage and updates around nominations, jury review, finalists, and ceremony.
Nepal Education Award 2026 opens nominations
Education News

Nepal Education Award 2026 opens nominations

The national call invites schools, teachers, innovators, and community programs to submit nominations.

 Education leaders discuss recognition and impact
Feature

Education leaders discuss recognition and impact

Sector leaders reflect on how visibility can encourage better learning outcomes.

 Classroom innovation becomes a major category
Insight

Classroom innovation becomes a major category

This year categories give stronger attention to inclusive and technology-enabled learning.

 Independent jury explains the evaluation process
Interview

Independent jury explains the evaluation process

Jurors discuss criteria, evidence review, and finalist selection.

 Partners collaborate around education priorities
Partners

Partners collaborate around education priorities

Sponsors and institutions explore long-term support for education improvement.

 Ceremony preparations begin in Kathmandu
Event

Ceremony preparations begin in Kathmandu

The team prepares the finalist showcase, partner lounge, and gala ceremony.

 Past laureates share lessons for nominees
Laureates

Past laureates share lessons for nominees

Previous winners explain how they documented impact and prepared for jury review.

Venue

Event Venue

The ceremony will be held at one of Kathmandu premier event venues.
Soaltee Hotel, Kathmandu
Grand Ballroom

Soaltee Hotel, Kathmandu

A central venue with ceremony seating, finalist hosting, media areas, partner lounges, and guest hospitality.

View Details

Nominations Open

Submit Your Nomination

Know an extraordinary educator or institution? Nominate them for the 2026 Nepal Education Award before 30 August.
FAQ

Questions & Answers

Straight answers about nominations, eligibility, jury review, and ceremony attendance.

What is your name?
Educators, institutions, students, parents, community partners, and education leaders can submit nominations for eligible categories.
Is there a nomination fee?
No. Nepal Education Award is entirely free to enter. We believe cost should never be a barrier to recognition.
How are winners selected?
An independent jury evaluates shortlisted nominees against published criteria, supporting evidence, and demonstrated education impact.
Can institutions outside Kathmandu be nominated?
Absolutely. We actively encourage nominations from all 77 districts. Our jury gives particular attention to nominees from remote and underserved regions.
What do winners receive?
Winners receive a bespoke crystal trophy, a certificate of excellence, national media coverage, and a platform to share their story. Selected categories also include a cash prize.
Can a previous winner be nominated again?
Yes, previous winners may be nominated again after three years, provided they have not received the Lifetime Achievement Award.