Celebrating Excellence, Courage and the Education of Life
For 31 years, The Telegraph School Awards for Excellence has celebrated something much larger than academic achievement. It has recognised courage, resilience, determination, social responsibility and the people who make education meaningful. In 2026, the prestigious awards returned with the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) as the presenting partner, continuing a long-standing association built around education, empathy and opportunity. Over the years, the initiative has touched the lives of more than 50,000 students, bringing schools, teachers, parents and communities together on one platform.
For IIHM, being associated with the awards is an extension of its larger commitment to education as a force for social change. As the title/presenting partner, IIHM supports a platform that gives visibility and encouragement to students whose achievements may otherwise remain unnoticed. The awards go beyond marks and examinations to recognise young people who overcome financial hardship, illness, disability and difficult circumstances to continue their education and pursue their dreams.
This commitment also reflects IIHM’s wider CSR philosophy of giving back to society through education and opportunity. The School Awards create a meaningful bridge between institutions and communities, encouraging schools to look beyond conventional measures of success and recognise courage, compassion, service and perseverance. The initiative has also helped create a culture in which schools learn from one another and students understand that excellence can take many forms.
A key highlight of the 31st edition was the presence of Dr Suborno Bose, Founder and Chairman, IIHM, who presented the IIHM Awards for Excellence in Academics to deserving schools in and around Kolkata. The 2026 awards recognised Lakshmipat Singhania Academy and Shri Shikshayatan School as joint CBSE winners, St Xavier’s Institution, Panihati, in the ICSE/ISC category, and Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Purulia in the Madhyamik category.
Addressing the students, Dr Bose shared an important perspective on the meaning of education. He reminded young minds that while schools provide literacy, knowledge and academic learning, platforms such as the School Awards offer something equally important — the education of life.
The ceremony brought stories of students who had faced adversity but refused to surrender. From young people overcoming financial hardship to those continuing their education despite health and personal challenges, the awards demonstrated that courage and resilience can be as significant as academic scores. The 2026 edition honoured more than 1,000 students, along with teachers, parents and schools, reinforcing the idea that every journey of determination deserves recognition.
IIHM Presents The Telegraph School Awards in Siliguri
The spirit of the awards travelled to North Bengal with the fourth edition of IIHM Presents The Telegraph School Awards for Excellence 2026, North Bengal, held in Siliguri. The two-day celebration brought together more than 60 schools from the region and recognised students, teachers and institutions for achievements in academics, sports, social service, environmental responsibility and community engagement.
Little Angels’ School (Senior Secondary), Siliguri, and GD Goenka Public School, Siliguri, were named joint winners of the TTEF School of the Year Award. St Joseph’s School, North Point, Darjeeling, and St Michael’s School for Boys, Siliguri, jointly received the TTEF Award for Social Service for their sustained community outreach.
The Siliguri edition also highlighted inspiring stories such as Sabarnik Bandyopadhyay, who wrote his Class X examinations while undergoing treatment for blood cancer, and students and teachers who have taken education beyond the classroom through community service, environmental initiatives and social outreach.
For IIHM, the 31st Telegraph School Awards represent a powerful belief: education is not only about what we learn in classrooms, but also about how we learn to face life, support others and rise above challenges. By supporting platforms that recognise these values, IIHM continues to place education, empathy and social responsibility at the heart of its commitment to the next generation.
YouTube Link: Watch the complete IIHM Presents The Telegraph School Awards for Excellence 2026 ceremony
Media Coverage: https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/top-scorers-in-classrooms-and-beyond-kudos-to-those-who-raised-the-benchmark-prnt/cid/2182310
