Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : President of India Ram Nath Kovind received 319 recipients of ‘National Awards to Meritorious Teachers’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan on September 5, 2017. This was the first time that a high tea was hosted for award winning teachers by the President of India on Teachers’ Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated the teachers who had received awards earlier on September 5. He said that Dr S. Radhakrishnan, former President of India, was an illustrious teacher. On his birth anniversary as Teachers’ Day, we pay our respect and regards to teachers. He said that in Indian culture, teachers are seen as equivalent to God.
The President said that Dr S. Radhakrishnan, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Pranab Mukherjee became Presidents but are cherished as teachers. Even Gandhiji taught English to underprivileged children in Delhi. Teachers have the very important responsibility of laying the foundation of a child’s future. He urged the teaching fraternity to ensure there is no decline in standards of education, according to a PIB release. He stated that he was confident that they would fulfil their responsibilities earnestly. He said that Dr Radhakrishnan had once observed that “When we think we know, we cease to learn”. It is therefore, important that all of us including teachers should never stop learning.
The President said that India is a land of diversity. Children in schools are from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Teachers need to take care of this. They should make an effort to understand the child’s family background and minimise disparity among the students of a class.