City marks Teachers’ Day in a big way, plans to go grander

NEW DELHI: Ninty-one city teachers were awarded on Monday by the Delhi government at the Thyagaraj Sports complex to mark Teachers’ Day. Education minister Manish

NEW DELHI: Ninty-one city teachers were awarded on Monday by the Delhi government at the Thyagaraj Sports complex to mark Teachers’ Day. Education minister Manish Sisodia called it the first grand Teachers’ Day award ceremony.

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The red carpet was rolled out for the awardees. Large banners and flexes stood along the entrances that led the teachers towards the stage with giant LCD screens.

Bollywood actors Swara Bhaskar and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub were hosts for the evening.

“It was my wish that we have a grand function for the teachers. We see big fashion shows, film awards and it is the teachers who make these stars. The education department and Delhi Tourism have made this event a grand affair,” said Sisodia.

He said that with every passing year, the function will become grander and will be emulated across the country.

Delhi tourism minister Kapil Mishra went a step ahead and said the event was no less than a Filmfare award function.

“When government takes responsibility and organises such award functions, it is a way to show our respect,” he said.

Teachers said it was one-of-a-kind event organised on such a large scale. “I am feeling like a celebrity today and have no words to express my happiness,’ said Rajiv Kumar Sharma, teacher of an MCD primary school, Libaspur and one of the awardees.

Sisodia while thanking teachers for the work also outlined the challenges in front of them.

“74% children in Class 6 cannot read textbooks, so we have to first make them read then let them understand and teach them how to live. Teachers should turn students into good human beings and inculcate in them the courage to accept new things,” he said.

Also acknowledging the problems in the government schools, he said that with passing time problems related to infrastructure, guest teachers’ salary and pay-scale will be resolved.

Apart from the regular awards, two teachers were given a special recommendation award this year.

Sushma Yadav, an art teacher at the Government Girls Senior Secondary School No 1, Madipur and SC Archana of the Sarvodaya Vidyalaya No 3, Sector 7 RK Puram, were given the award for changing classroom environment.

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