Take India to its next golden age, Mukherjee urges teachers

Teachers can play a pivotal role in making children confident and self reliant, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Thursday, while exhorting teachers to take India forward to its next golden age.

Presenting national awards to meritorious teachers at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan here, Mukherjee said: "We need to create systems for continuous assessment of the quality of education and the outcome of our educational inputs. Our educational institutions have such teachers who can shape the thoughts of the young minds. Through words, actions and deeds, such teachers inspire the students and elevate them to a higher level of performance and thinking."

"Such inspired teachers should be encouraged to share their knowledge, wisdom and philosophy with the larger student community," he added.

Emphasizing that a sound education system is the bedrock of an enlightened society, Mukherjee said: "It is the cornerstone on which a progressive, democratic society is built - where rule of law prevails, where there is a high degree of civility and respect for the rights of others as well as our own."

The President said that development, to his mind, is about people, their values and their faithfulness to their spiritual and cultural heritage.

He stated that as we move forward, it is a holistic education that should play a definitive role in shaping our values.

Stating that he saw a pivotal role for the teachers in re-setting the moral compass," Mukherjee said: "The teachers have to help our youth imbibe the essential civilizational values of love for motherland; performance of duty; compassion for all; tolerance for pluralism; respect for women; honesty in life; self-restraint in conduct, responsibility in action and discipline."

Stating that India need to create systems for continuous assessment of the quality of education and the outcome of our educational inputs, "Mukherjee said: "Participation of the community and parents would be essential in this process so that all stakeholders can ensure the desired results. A strong spirit of enquiry is a key ingredient in gaining better insights and all these contribute to the making of a rational, free thinking and progressive individual."

He further said that an inclusive approach is critical for achieving our developmental goals.

"We have to empower our children, their parents and communities in every part of India. They must be afforded the opportunity and the ability to change their lives at a pace that they find is appropriate and beneficial," he said.

"A key objective is to close the male-female gap in literacy. Nothing is more saddening than the sight of a girl child being denied education. I take this opportunity to reiterate the motto, "All for knowledge and Knowledge for all"," he added.