Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi on Thursday presented the State Best Teacher Awards 2019 to teachers of primary, high and higher secondary schools.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Ms. Bedi suggested constituting a panel of former awardees to assess schools on a set of parameters, which included innovation, cleanliness and greenery.
The schools could be graded from ‘A’ to ‘C’ and encouraged to improve the following year, she said.
Ms. Bedi also called for regular convening of Parent Teacher Association meetings so that homes are not delinked from school.
Wherever, parents of a child are unable to attend these meetings, teachers could pay them a visit, she suggested.
Ms. Bedi said she was impressed with her visit to the Pavendhar Bharathidhasan Government Primary School Koonichampet, Villianur, whose Principal S. Sasikumar had won a National Teacher Award, and said other institutions and their leadership could emulate the example.
The Lt. Governor also released a booklet.
Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy noted that Puducherry had performed well in national rankings in school, college and professional education and complimented the contribution of the teacher fraternity for the achievement.
He singled out the important role of Government schools in making learning accessible to the rural poor at a time when costs of education were increasing.
The Government has earmarked a Budgetary allocation of 6% of outlay for education this year, which was higher than the 4% allotted by the Government of India, Mr. Narayanasamy said.
Pointing out that the Government was also upgrading infrastructure such as creating smart classrooms, he urged teachers to make full use of the facilities.
Education Minister R. Kamalakannan called for grooming students to fare well in national competitive examinations from the primary school level.
Ashwani Kumar, Chief Secretary, said that while these days there was no dearth of content available, they could only supplement and not replace the need for a good teacher.
Teachers not only imparted knowledge but played a crucial role in character building, he said.
P.T. Rudra Goud, Director of School Education was among those who participated.
The winners are as follows:
Teachers of primary, high and higher secondary schools received awards in 3 different categories:
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Awards
Primary level: J. Valarmathy, Ecole Anglaise School, Puducherry and S. Revathy, Government Boys School, Villianur.
Secondary level: M. Karunagaran, Jeevanandam GHSS, Karamanikuppam and A. Balasubramanian, Govindasamy Pillai GHSS, Karaikal.
Chief Minister’s Special Awards
Language Teacher: R. Megala, Thanthai Periyar GHSS, Kovilpathu, Karaikal.
Woman Teacher: Y. M. Santhosh Lourdu Mary, TKR GHS, Thengaithittu; G. Arulmozhi, GHS, Kanuvapet, Villianur; C. Muniammal, Murugathal Aachi Girls High School, Karaikal and R. Radha, Headmistress, Government Primary School, Karaikal.
Technical Teacher: E. Mugundhan (music), Artchouna Soupraya Naikar Government Middle School, Mudaliarpet and Chintha Ramakrishna (physical education), SKSPVRN Government High School, Kanakalapeta, Yanam.
Education Minister’s Regional Awards
Puducherry: N. Djeassilane, instructor, NKC Government Girls HSS, Kurussukuppam, A. Sandirane, Indira Gandhi GHSS, Indira Nagar, D. John Bosco, Pandit Duraisamy High School, Lawspet and R. Saravanane, Soucilabai Girls HSS.
Karaikal: S. Anbarasan, Hussainia High School, Neravy and M. Azhagunila, Murugathal Aachi Girls High School.
Mahe: A.K.N. Dinesh, Headmaster (Primary), Government Lower Primary School.
Yanam: Dangeti Trimurthulu, PK Government High School.