New Delhi: The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, conferred National Awards on teachers from across the country at a function held in New Delhi on 5 September 2024 on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. The President conferred the National Teachers’ Award 2024 to 82 selected awardees.

Addressing the gathering, the President said that teachers must prepare citizens who are not only educated but also sensitive, honest, and enterprising. She stated that moving ahead in life is success, but the meaning of life lies in working for the welfare of others. We should have compassion, and our conduct should be ethical. A successful life lies in a meaningful life, and teaching these values to students is the duty of teachers.

The President remarked that teachers play the most important role in the success of any education system. Teaching is not just a job but a sacred mission of human development. If a child is not able to perform well, then the education system and teachers have a greater responsibility. She pointed out that often, teachers focus more on students who perform well in exams. However, excellent academic performance is only one dimension of excellence. A child may excel in sports, another might have leadership skills, while some may enthusiastically participate in social welfare activities. Teachers must identify and nurture each child's natural talents.

The President also said that the status of women in any society is an important criterion for its development. It is the responsibility of both teachers and parents to educate children in such a way that they always behave with dignity towards women. She emphasised that respect for women should not just be in 'words' but also in 'practice'.

The President quoted Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, saying that if a teacher does not continuously acquire knowledge, they cannot teach in the true sense. She expressed confidence that all teachers would continue the process of acquiring knowledge, which will make their teaching more relevant and engaging.

She further told teachers that their students' generation will create a developed India. She advised both teachers and students to have a global mindset and world-class skills, adding that great teachers build a great nation. Only teachers with a developed mindset can create citizens capable of building a developed nation. She expressed confidence that by inspiring their students, teachers will make India the knowledge hub of the world.

India celebrates 5 September, the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, as National Teachers’ Day. The purpose of the National Teachers’ Award is to celebrate the unique contributions of teachers and to honour those who, through their dedication, have enriched the lives of their students and improved the quality of education. Each award includes a certificate of merit, a cash award of Rs. 50,000, and a silver medal.

The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, has selected 50 teachers for this year’s National Teachers' Awards through a rigorous and transparent online three-stage process at the district, state, and national levels. The 50 selected teachers are from 28 states, 3 union territories, and 6 organisations. Out of the 50 selected, 34 are male, 16 are female, 2 are differently abled, and 1 is working with CWSN. In addition, 16 teachers from the Department of Higher Education and 16 teachers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship were also awarded.

NEP 2020 recognises that motivated, energised, and capable faculty are critical for the advancement of students, institutions, and the profession. It also envisages incentives such as rewards and recognition to cultivate a culture of excellence in the education ecosystem. As such, in 2023, it was decided to institute two categories of awards for higher education institutions (HEIs) and polytechnics under the umbrella of the National Teachers' Awards, which had previously been restricted to school teachers only. The 16 selected teachers are from polytechnics, state universities, and central higher education institutions. /BI