Minister Basanta commits to empowerment of teachers
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, September 05 2023:
The Department of Education celebrated the State Level Teachers' Day at the auditorium of Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), Palace Compound here on Tuesday as various organisations also honoured the teachers on the occasion.
Speaking as chief guest of the state level function, Education minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh described teaching as the noblest of all the professions as it is deeply rooted in our culture and sometimes, considered as a sacred-service that an individual can render to the society.
He continued: "Teachers are considered to be the third parent and the pillars to support a child.
The knowledge, moral values and disciplines that teachers instilled in the students will play a big role in nurturing the small boys and girls to grow into men and women of substance, virtue and strength of character.
These men and women will become good citizens of the country and the state with the resolution to build and sustain a descent society".
The minister then said that the department will take steps to ensure that every school in Manipur has the facilities to deliver world class education that can hold its own against any school in the country.
It is also focussing on empowering teachers and students to bring about meaningful changes in the education sector amid the prevailing situation in the state.
He also said that instructions have been given to the officials not to hold regarding the issues of pending promotion and other such related problems of the teachers, which will hamper or discourage the teachers in any way.
Basanta further stated: "The idea of co-existence and mutual understanding should be instilled in the mind of the students so that it will go a long way in resolving the issue of misunderstandings in the future that will hamper the development of the state.
Mutual harmony and respect will have a far-reaching effect with regard to education, skill development and cultural exposure".
In this regard, ethics and moral philosophy should be introduced in the school curriculum, for which the Department is planning to constitute a syllabus committee.
In addition to this, exchange programme between students Class VII-X) belonging to hill and valley areas can also be incorporated in the schools so that they can be exposed to different cultures and people from a young age.
In order to have communal harmony in the society, the minister instructed the Higher Education Department to take up programmes such as inter community debates and cultural fairs so that the students can learn the cultures of the 34-35 different communities present in the state.
Basanta Kumar then said that exposing the students to different cultures could help bring the world to Manipur.
Before May 3, Manipur was a peaceful state.
It is up to us, particularly the teachers and students, to make concerted efforts to restore the same serene atmosphere.
There is no shame in incorporating the positive vibes of other communities so as to move Manipur forward, he stated, while asserting that the teachers and students will be the ones to set the future of the state.
During the function, the State Level Teacher's Award was presented to four teachers.
The teachers who got the awards are Rajkumari Romila Devi (mathematics) and Salam Meghachandra Singh (mathematics) of Churachand Higher Secondary School; Koijam Machasana, arts graduate teacher from Ghari Upper Primary.
School; and Songsar Nicodim Monsang, primary teacher from Japhou Upper Primary School.
Certificates of Appreciation were also presented to National Award to Teacher recipient Chingmei Upper Primary School primary teacher Ningthoujam Binoy of Keibul Lamjao Mayai Leikai for his contributions in the held of education, and TG Higher Secondary School and Churachand Higher Secondary School for producing the highest number of position holders in HSE conducted by CoHSEM.
The State Level College Appreciation Certificates were also given to seven colleges.
The colleges included were Don Bosco College, Maram; Rayburn College, Churachandpur; South East Manipur College, Komlathabi; Waikhom Mani Girls College, Thoubal; S Kula Women's College, Nambol; Thoubal College; and Churachandpur College.
The awards also carried a cash prize of Rs 50,000.However, representatives of Ray Burn College Churachandpur and Churachandpur College were not present at the programme to receive the award.
Presided over by Education(S/HTE/SCERT/AE) commissioner, H Gyanprakash, the programme was also attended by University and Higher Education director Rangitabali Waikhom; Manipur University of Culture VC Paonam Gunindro and Education (S) director L Nandakumar as guests of honour.
Earlier, as part of the programme, floral tributes were paid to the photograph of former President Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrisnan.
Teachers' Day celebrations were organised by Lions Club of Canchipur, Sofia English School and Kakching High School 1984 Matric Batch on Tuesday.
In a release, Lions Club of Canchipur informed that the celebration was marked by offering of floral tributes to Dr Radhakrishnan and honouring of Manipur College retired principal Dr RK Radhakishore Singh and YK College, Wangjing principal Dr Soibam Giri Singh.
Similarly, students of Sofia English School celebrated Teachers' Day at their school campus at Thoubal Wangmataba by paying floral tributes to Dr S Radhakrishnan and presenting gifts to teachers and non-teaching staff.
Meanwhile, Kakching High School 1984 Matric Batch celebrated Teachers' Day by presenting gifts to 10 of their former teachers.