5 women among 27 teachers get state award

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla conferred the State Teacher’s Award on 27 teachers, including five women teachers, on the occasion of Teacher’s Day at Raj Bhavan here today.

THE AWARD GOES TO

GENERAL

Suneel Dutt, Principal, Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Jogindernagar

Kundan Lal, Political science lecturer, GMSSS, Anni

Sanjay Kumar, Commerce lecturer, GUSSS, Sarahan

Sanjay Kumar, DPE, GMSSS, Sundernagar

Hardeep Singh, TGT (Medical), GSSS, Teuri

Naresh Kumar, Language teacher, GGSSS, Sabathu

Prem Singh Thakur, Language teacher,

GGSSS, Sultanpur

Hem Raj, Language teacher, GSSS Dhangiara

Sunil Kumar, PET, GHS, Chakmoh

Madhu Bala, JBT, GPS, Bharengi

Upender Thakur, JBT, GPS, Thamari

Surender Kumar, JBT, GPS, Firmu

Bhagirathi Sharma, HT, GPS, Punjvilla

HARD, TRIBAL AREAS

Kedar Nath Sharma, Hindi lecturer, GSSS, Rei

Subhash Chand, Language teacher, GSSS, Ladda

Chandna Devi, Language teacher, GSSS, Jiskoon

Sant Kumar Negi, JBT, GCPS, Pangi

Rita Bala, JBT, GPS, Brelangi

SPECIAL AWARD

Rohit Verma, Principal, GMSSS, Narag

Deepak Sharma, Biology lecturer, GSSS, Mashobra

Kanta Sharma, JBT, GPA, Tarapur, Chopal

Pushpender Kaushik, English lecturer, GSSS, Ganaguhat

Surinder Pundir, English lecturer, GSSS, Chhogtali

Sanjeev Kumar, English lecturer, DIET, Shimla

Upender Singh, Headmaster, GHS, Chaura

Mohan Sharma, Principal, GSSS, Indora

Bhupender Sisodia, Principal, GSSS, Throch

The number of teachers who received the award this time is significantly higher than the last few years — only 13 teachers were given the award last year and 15 in 2022. Calling the teachers nation-builders, the Governor said the teachers should be sensitive towards their role of imparting education and values to make the process of teaching and learning effective.

Meanwhile, most teachers attributed the increase to the number of awardees largely to the changes made to the selection process. “The selection process now is much more fair and transparent. It will encourage more teachers to apply for the award. Unlike in the past when an aspirant had to apply himself for the award, a teacher can be recommended for the award by others as well,” said an awardee teacher.

Education Minister Rohit Thakur, while congratulating the awardees, said the old selection process had been overhauled to ensure only deserving teachers get the award. “We have introduced on-the-spot evaluation of the students taught by the teacher who has applied for the award, presentation by the aspirants and their interviews to ensure only deserving candidates get the award,” he said.

Incidentally, most of the teachers chosen for the award are from far-flung areas, with five teachers picked from the hard and tribal areas of Chamba, Kinnaur and Shimla. Of the total awardees, five are women teachers. “Some of these teachers are in a single-teacher school. Yet, they are giving excellent results, setting an example for all of us. Many others are carrying out several activities to enhance students’ learning and their overall personality,” said Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar.

While congratulating the awardees, Thakur also reminded them that the state, which was once ranked alongside Kerala in educational standards, has slipped down the ladder over the last 10 to 15 years. “We all need to work together to bring the state back on top in education sector,” said Thakur.