Itanagar: Altogether 31 teachers from across the state of Arunachal Pradesh were today awarded the ‘State Award to Teachers-2022’ on the occasion of Teachers’ Day for their contribution towards the upliftment of the education system.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu along with Education Minister Taba Tedir and Chief Secretary Dharmendra gave away the State Awards to the 31 selected teachers working in government and government-aided schools in various parts of the state at a simple ceremony held at the Golden Jubilee Banquet Hall here.
Congratulating the awardees including five lady teachers, Khandu commended the role of teachers in shaping the future generation of the state, especially those posted in interior places. He expressed gratitude to the teachers for imparting quality education to students despite facing several hardships in terms of facilities.
“Though Arunachal Pradesh has been a late starter in almost all sectors, including education, the contribution of our teachers in making education a vibrant sector is immeasurable,” the CM said.
Khandu pointed out that the role of teachers has increased manifold in modern times due to the advent and influence of the internet with its easy accessibility. “We cannot avoid the influence of internet on a student’s formative years but as teachers we can surely guide them to use the web for positive development and knowledge gain,” he said.
Citing a lack of adequate infrastructure in several schools in the state, the Chief Minister said that under the National Education Policy, the State Government is committed to rebuild all ‘dilapidated’ schools and provide basic facilities for students as well as teachers so that they can concentrate on quality education.
He informed that the rebuilding and refurbishing exercise of schools has already begun in a phased manner and that by 2030 all required infrastructural requirements would be fulfilled.
On complaints of teachers’ shortage, Khandu revealed that there are 3600 government and government-aided schools in the state as of date with 16,000 teachers. He summarized that if the posting of teachers is rationalized there would be an adequate number of teachers for all schools.
While directing the Education Department to evolve and implement a ‘robust’ mechanism for rational transfer and posting of teachers, Khandu urged the Arunachal Teacher’s Association (ATA) to cooperate and assist in the department’s endeavour in this regard.
He, however, informed that the State Government has already approved the recruitment of sufficient number of teachers through the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) to meet the demand.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister informed that the lone Arunachal State University at Pasighat will start functioning this year.
Education Minister Taba Tedir congratulated the teachers for their hard work which has resulted in a better pass percentage in this year’s class 10 and 12 examinations. He said after dismal performances in previous years and the Covid hindrance, the pass percentage this year was 40% and 79% respectively for class 10 and 12 examinations.
“Though we are below par of the national average, it is a positive sign. With our concerted efforts we aim to touch at least the national average next year,” he said.
Tedir assured that the government is alive to the issues confronting the education sector and is committed to resolve all.
Earlier, Khandu, Tedir and other dignitaries paid floral tributes to the portrait of former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, an acclaimed teacher, on whose birth anniversary Teacher’s Day is celebrated every year across the country.
