JAMMU / SHIMLA, Sep 5: Governor Kavinder Gupta conferred State Awards on 32 teachers and honoured one teacher with the National Award for 2025 at a State-level Teachers’ Day function held at Lok Bhavan, Shimla.
Congratulating the award-winning teachers, the Governor said teachers, parents and students have an important role in strengthening the education system. He said teachers must remain sensitive towards their responsibility of imparting both education and values, as effective teaching goes beyond textbook knowledge.
Paying tribute to former President, eminent educationist and philosopher Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary, the Governor said teachers play a vital role in shaping the future of students as well as the nation. He said a teacher builds values, character and confidence and provides direction to students.
Highlighting the importance of quality and value-based education for nation-building, Gupta said the meaningful participation of youth would be crucial for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat-2047. He said quality, inclusive and value-based education was essential for building a strong and developed India.
Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Governor said education was increasingly moving beyond examinations and degrees, with greater emphasis on knowledge, skills, creativity, innovation, research and character building. He highlighted initiatives including PM SHRI Schools, NIPUN Bharat, Samagra Shiksha, Digital Education and Atal Tinkering Labs for promoting scientific temper and 21st-century skills.
The Governor also stressed that the growing use of Artificial Intelligence, robotics and digital technology had made the role of teachers even more significant. While technology could facilitate the teaching-learning process, he said, the inspiration, guidance, affection and values provided by teachers could not be replaced by technology.
Appreciating Himachal Pradesh’s performance in education, Gupta congratulated teachers and the education system for the State’s second position nationally in Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) under the PARAKH National Survey. He said programmes such as Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, NIPUN Bharat and PM SHRI were promoting national unity, creativity, scientific thinking and essential 21st-century skills among students.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur said the State Government was committed to strengthening the education sector, with emphasis on quality education. He said Himachal Pradesh’s literacy rate had reached 100 per cent and more than 9,000 appointments had been made in the Education Department by the present government. He also highlighted the introduction of English from Class I, promotion of local languages, staff rationalisation and educational exposure programmes for students and teachers.
Technical Education Minister Rajesh Dharmani said the award-winning teachers had demonstrated dedication and commitment and often gone beyond their prescribed duties to bring positive changes in children’s lives. He suggested documenting and sharing their success stories with other teachers as a source of inspiration.
Earlier, Education Minister Rohit Thakur felicitated the Governor. Education Secretary Rakesh Kanwar welcomed the Governor, while Director, School Education, Ashish Kohli, presented the vote of thanks. Students of GSSS Portmore and RKMV presented a cultural programme.
Surender Chauhan, Mayor, Municipal Corporation Shimla, Dr. Abhishek Jain, Principal Secretary, Technical Education, Uma Kaushal, Deputy Mayor, Sandeep Bhardwaj, Secretary to the Governor, Suneeta Singh, Director, Higher Education, and other prominent persons were also present. The Governor also released a souvenir brought out on the occasion.