Br Malvino Alfonso OCD –
For 38 long years, Maria Murena Miranda dedicated her life not merely to teaching lessons from textbooks, but to transforming lives in one of Goa’s remote tribal regions. As Headmistress of PM SHRI Government High School, Morpirla (situated in the South Goa district), she became a beacon of hope for hundreds of first-generation learners whose families had never experienced the power of education before.
Her retirement from formal school service marks a significant milestone in a remarkable journey dedicated to education — a journey marked by sacrifice, passion, discipline, humility, and an unwavering commitment to the poor and marginalized.
Born with a deep sense of mission, Maria Miranda always considered teaching not simply as a profession but as a vocation. Reflecting on her long career, she says that her greatest joy came from serving poor tribal children and bringing meaningful change into their lives. According to her, teaching demands passion, dedication, and a commitment to shaping not only the minds but also the character of students. Wherever she served, she tried to nurture the holistic development of children and contribute positively to society.
Her years in Morpirla were not easy. The school was situated in a remote tribal area with limited infrastructure and numerous challenges. Most students came from economically poor families, many of whom were first-generation learners with little educational support at home. Language barriers, cultural differences, poverty, and isolation often stood in the way of learning. Yet, Maria Miranda never allowed these obstacles to discourage her.
Instead, she saw grace amidst hardship. She found the tribal students eager to learn, deeply disciplined, loving, and respectful toward teachers whom they regarded as “Guru.” Their sincerity inspired her to work even harder for their future.
Through patience, innovation, and relentless dedication, she transformed the school into a centre of excellence. Under her leadership, the school achieved an extraordinary milestone of securing 100% SSC results for eleven consecutive years. She firmly believed that the first step toward success was helping students believe in themselves.
Teaching Mathematics and Science with creativity and enthusiasm, she made learning enjoyable and accessible even for children who struggled academically. Understanding that her students lacked coaching classes and educational guidance at home, she and her colleagues devoted themselves to conducting extra classes and offering personal mentoring to ensure that no child was left behind.
Her remarkable contribution eventually received recognition at both state and national levels. Though she had served tirelessly for over three decades, recognition came after 32 years of teaching when she received the Goa State Best Teacher Award in 2020. Two years later, she was honoured with the prestigious National Best Teacher Award in 2022.
Yet for Maria Miranda, awards were never the goal. She returned from Delhi and quietly resumed her work among her students in Morpirla. However, more honours continued to follow. She was invited to the prestigious “At Home” Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2024, attended “Pariksha Pe Charcha” twice with the Prime Minister in 2023 and 2025, and participated in the Raksha Bandhan celebration with the President of India in 2025.
Recalling her experience at Rashtrapati Bhavan, she speaks with deep emotion. The ceremonial fanfare announcing the arrival of the President, the National Anthem, and the opportunity to personally meet the President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi left a lasting impression on her heart. For a teacher from a remote tribal school in Morpirla, the invitation itself was beyond imagination.
Despite receiving national acclaim, Maria Miranda remained remarkably humble. She credits her simplicity and the values instilled by her parents for keeping her grounded. “My students are first,” she says. Even while attending prestigious national events in Delhi, her thoughts remained with her children back in Morpirla.
As a Catholic educator, her faith profoundly shaped her leadership and teaching style. She believed that leadership is fundamentally about service, humility, acceptance, and empowerment. Teaching, for her, was never merely employment; it was participation in God’s mission of uplifting lives through education.
Her message to young teachers is both simple and profound: treat every student as your own child. She believes that every child is unique and that teachers must adapt themselves to the needs of their students rather than expecting students to fit into rigid systems. If teachers give their best sincerely, she says, God will surely bless their efforts.
To students, especially those from difficult backgrounds, she offers words born from experience: there is no substitute for hard work. She encourages them to dream fearlessly, overcome challenges courageously, and remember that “the sky is the limit.” More importantly, she reminds them that while success in career is important, becoming a good human being matters even more.
Even in retirement, Maria Miranda remains active in the field of education. She has already been appointed as a Resource Person for NMM by NCTE Delhi to train teachers, allowing her to continue sharing her rich experience with the younger generation of educators. Alongside this new responsibility, she also hopes to spend time travelling and pursuing her passion for baking.
Maria Miranda’s story is not merely the story of an award-winning teacher. It is the story of a woman who entered forgotten villages, believed in children whom society often overlooked, and transformed education into a force of dignity, hope, and empowerment.
Her legacy lives on not only in certificates and awards, but in the lives of countless tribal and first-generation learners who dared to dream because one teacher believed they could.