My heart is still in teaching: PM

The Prime Minister says though he is now in politics, he is a teacher by profession and has taught in universities of Punjab, Delhi, Oxford and Cambridge.

Describing the teaching community as true nation builders, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said his heart is still in teaching though he is now in politics.

"I am now in politics. But I am a teacher by profession. I have taught in universities of Punjab, Delhi, Oxford and Cambridge and my heart is still for the teaching profession," Singh told National Award-winning teachers who called on him at his Race Course Road residence in New Delhi.

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No other community has played a greater role in building an "India of tomorrow" than the teaching community, which was "truly the nation builders of our society, our country", he said.

Singh said the Centre has nearly trebled expenditure on expanding the knowledge horizon and paid greater attention to elementary education, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and mid-day meal scheme.

The government is now working towards universal access to secondary education, he said.

During the 11th Plan, greater emphasis would be paid to university education and to establishing colleges in districts where there were no such institutions, Singh said.

Describing late president S Radhakrishnan as a "great statesman", Singh said he remained a "role model" for students and the teaching community.

President Pratibha Patil will on Wednesday honour 314 teachers from across the country for their meritorious services with National Awards on Teacher's Day, which is observed on Radhakrishnan's birthday.