Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday described a teacher as a bright lamp which has the capability of lighting hundreds of unlit lamps, and who imparts courage to innovate and invent.
He also said holistic education as suggested by National Education Policy (NEP) will provide equal opportunities to teachers and students to use knowledge to transform.
President over a function in connection with the Teachers’ Day celebrations at SKICC here, the LG honoured the finest teachers from across J&K with Union Territory Awards.
Extending his greetings on the occasion of Teachers’ Day, the LG urged the teachers to allow independent thinking, creativity, inquisitiveness, knowledge for quality education by involving students and ensuring individual growth for appropriate learning experience.
“Achieving wealth of values in life should be the new aim of the younger generation rather than the race for marks. Innovation, flexibility, creativity, value-based education, developing scientific temper, skill sets and independent ideas should be given priority in the education system,” the LG added.
“Great educationist and former President of India, Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan always believed that education means wisdom, love, curiosity and creativity. Dr Radhakrishnan had a very clear message – ‘Teachers are not those who give knowledge to the students, but in the true sense, teachers are those who prepare the students for the future challenges’,” observed the LG.
“With the same spirit, the NEP prepared under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the biggest revolution of the last 75 years with the potential to kindle the curiosity, creativity and scientific thinking through quality learning among the students,” he added.
Asserting that the last two years have been a period of transformation for education sector in Jammu & Kashmir, the LG, according to an official press release, said that new reforms, policies and schemes in line with NEP have redefined the entire education system and made the schools a centre of quality learning while restoring the teachers’ respect in the society.
The LG noted that initiatives like Teachers-Students mentorship programme, ‘Aao School Chalein’ campaign, TALAASH survey, 500 Atal Tinkering Labs, modern skills training, scholarship programs, computer aided learning, etc., are bringing real transformation in the educational ecosystem.
Dedicated efforts are being made for bridging the gender gaps and ensuring that the quality education is accessible to common man. Necessary infrastructure for girls’ education has been established and in only one year, 14 hostels for girls have been developed, he added.
“We are providing all necessary resources for individuality and independent thinking to grow in students and enhance their learning outcome. As many as 70,000 boys and girls are taking vocational training in 14 different trades and 1420 Computer Aided Learning Centers in Upper Primary Schools are promoting independent thinking in children,” the LG further said.
He asked the younger generation to draw inspiration from the life of great personalities like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam-ji and Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan-ji and learn higher values of life, make new discoveries & new innovations and dedicate themselves towards nation building.
“In the next few days, we will start debate and essay writing competitions in all schools and colleges. On Gandhi Jayanti, we will gather all awarded students and prominent Gandhians of the country so that the values of Bapu are not confined to books but reflect on our morals and character as well,” he added.
Sinha said there were incidents of teachers being killed by terrorists in recent times.
“Some time back, some people committed the heinous crime of killing innocent teachers. The security forces are doing their job but I think the time has come now for the society to stand against such crimes. Too much blood of innocents has been spilled in Jammu and Kashmir. If we can’t do anything else, we can at least condemn it,” the LG said.
He was referring to the killing of two teachers, a Sikh and a Kashmiri Pandit, in a school in Eidgah area of the city last year and another Hindu teacher, who was shot dead earlier this year in Kulgam district.
“No religion allows to target a person who leaves his family to educate children, to shape their future,” he added.
Earlier, the LG inspected the stalls put up by the students of various schools, and appreciated the students for showcasing the traditional artifacts, heritage, art, crafts and culture of Jammu Kashmir.
