Langtang North Local Government Area has set a new benchmark in grassroots education reform as Executive Chairman, Hon. Pirfa Tyem, honoured the LGA’s Best Teacher with a fully sponsored two-week pilgrimage to Israel and approved five motorcycles to strengthen school supervision across rural communities.
The landmark initiative, widely regarded as the first of its kind at the local government level in , has drawn commendation from education stakeholders and community leaders for promoting accountability, motivation and performance-driven leadership in basic education.
The development was unveiled during a strategic meeting of Directors of the Langtang North Local Education Authority (LEA), council members and key stakeholders, a gathering that evolved into a strong declaration of intent for sustainable educational advancement in the area.
Mr. Nanbel Nimlang, a classroom teacher from Mban, emerged as the overall Best Teacher after a transparent, multi-stage evaluation process initiated through the LEA.
The Education Secretary of Langtang North LEA, Mrs. Tabitha Wazhi, disclosed that an 11-member committee comprising representatives of the traditional council, former education secretaries and zonal education officers supervised the assessment to ensure credibility and fairness.
The competition began at the school level, advanced to the zonal stage involving 14 schools, and produced three finalists before the overall winner was selected.
Mrs. Wazhi noted that the initiative has already sparked renewed dedication among teachers, improved punctuality, enhanced classroom delivery and restored healthy professional competition across schools in Langtang North.
She also highlighted the Chairman’s sustained interventions in the sector, including improved teacher welfare, provision of instructional materials, renovation of LEA offices and consistent support for pupil-focused programmes.
In his address, Hon. Tyem reaffirmed that education remains the most strategic investment for grassroots development.
He explained that the sponsored pilgrimage was more than a reward, describing it as a deliberate policy instrument aimed at institutionalising excellence, inspiring innovation and building a performance-based culture within the basic education system.
To further strengthen oversight, the Chairman approved five motorcycles to enhance mobility for supervisory officers, particularly in hard-to-reach rural communities. The motorcycles were provided by the Langtang North Local Government Council under his leadership.
The formal presentation was symbolically performed by distinguished Plateau South leader and senatorial aspirant, AVM Napoleon Bali (rtd), who commended the initiative as visionary and replicable across other local governments.
He congratulated Mr. Nimlang and pledged to sponsor his Master’s degree programme, reinforcing the importance of continuous professional development for teachers.
Education stakeholders at the event observed that by introducing a structured and transparent teacher reward system, Langtang North has positioned itself as a model for improving learning outcomes through motivation, supervision and strategic leadership.
Responding emotionally, Mr. Nimlang expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as a morale booster that would inspire him to give his best to his pupils and the community.
Observers say the development signals more than celebration, it reflects a decisive shift toward measurable performance, strengthened supervision and purposeful leadership in basic education.
With motivated teachers, improved monitoring mechanisms and strong political will, Langtang North is not just rewarding excellence, it is redefining it.
