Teachers feted with state awards become role models for peers

Felicitation of teachers, posted at various government schools in the region, with state awards have enthused their colleagues to follow in their footsteps and put in extra labour for the welfare of students, hailing mostly from poor families.

They (colleagues) have started inquiring about procedural details for lodging their claim in the coming years and have started associating with various organisations for enhancing their score to be eligible for state and national-level awards.

Jaswinder Singh Bhullarheri of Government Primary School, Butahri, who was conferred the state award during a function at Anandpur Sahib on Sunday, said several teachers had approached him to seek assistance and tips in claiming the award. “I just told them that determination, devotion and dedication towards one’s duty was the primary eligibility for any award or appreciation,” said Bhullarheri, claiming that visionary approach towards the development of students had fetched him the award.

Ashok Kumar Verma, an office-bearer of an international service organisation, acknowledged that some government school teachers had shown an inclination to associate with projects related with education and conservation of environment, besides spreading awareness about the causes and consequences of social evils, including drug abuse.

Sources in the Education Department revealed that claims for the awards were invited once every year. Aspirants usually collect data about their performance in the classroom and the environment at their respective schools. Mobilisation of funds from individuals, organisations and CSR from the corporate sector is also known to increase the score during consideration of applications.

Jaswinder Singh of Government Primary School, Butahri; Jasvir Kaur of School of Eminence, Doraha; Harpreet Singh of Government Primary School, Galib Kalan village; and Ajit Pal Singh of School of Eminence, Jawahar Nagar, Ludhiana; Mohammad Asad Ehsan of Government High School, Bhudan; and Kanwaldeep Singh of Government Primary School, Kothala, were among those felicitated by Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains.