Mangalore: To mark the teachers’ day, a district-level observance and felicitation ceremony was organized by the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat and the department of public instruction, Teachers’ Day Celebration Committee and Teachers’ Welfare Fund Bangalore, at the City Town Hall, here on September 5.

The programme began with an invocation followed by a welcome dance. Mangalore North Zone Education officer Lokesh C welcomed the gathering. A minute’s silence was observed for the departed souls of the teachers.

The programme was inaugurated by the MLA of Mangalore South Constituency J R Lobo by lighting the traditional lamp along with other dignitaries. 57 teacher’s from the district were felicitated on the occasion.

Retired Vice Principal Milagres High School Mangalore, Herold Monteiro and retired headmaster Govt Higher Primary School,Badagaekkaru Raghav D delivered the felicitation speech.

Addressing the gathering, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, “India is the only country where teachers are highly respected. Teachers have the responsibility to mould the students to be better citizens”.

He further said that now a days education has been commercialized. “There is a need to bring changes in the education system. Ministers or any political leader cannot bring changes in the system alone. It is the duty of the teachers to join hands with the government to bring changes.” MP Nalin Kumar congratulated all the teachers for their noble service in moulding the children as good citizens.

Mayor Mahabala Marla speaking on the occasion said, “What we are today and where we have reached is due to the hard work and dedication of our teachers. With value based education, we have been able to face many challenges. Teachers play a vital role in moulding the students which will help the country to develop. People commit mistakes in every field, but now in the teaching field also there are many black dots. Some teachers are involved in illegal activities which affect the students.”

MLC Ivan D’Souza speaking on the occasion said that if the doctors fall sick, the patient will die, if a engineer fails to perform his duty well, the building will not be perfect. “But if teacher fails in their duty, the entire society will be spoiled because students believe what the teacher teaches. Teachers should teach the children all the moral values and work for their betterment. Teaching is a noble profession, teachers are not selfish.” While concluding Ivan said that there are about 6.49 lakh posts of teachers lying vacant in the country. Government is trying to fill all the vacant posts as soon as possible.

Speaking on the occasion, Gopalkrishna Bhat (a retired teacher of St Aloysius High School) said that education is a challenge for the teachers. “Education is informative and knowledge is the only criteria. Formation is a challenge and education is transformation. There is a definition for education and it is an ongoing process. Being a teacher between the bell and the bill, we have to be better. There is no end for improvement. Transformation should be within us. We need to transform the learning from pressure to pleasure learning. Teachers should be the motivators for the students.”

G K Bhat further said that a teacher should be truthful, enthusiastic and able, should be well-charactered, honest, encouraging and respectable. While concluding G K Bhat said that, if the political leaders really have respect towards teachers, let them each make atleast one of their children a teacher. Speaking on the occasion, Gopalkrishna Bhat (a retired teacher of St Aloysius High School) said that education is a challenge for the teachers. “Education is informative and knowledge is the only criteria. Formation is a challenge and education is transformation. There is a definition for education and it is an ongoing process. Being a teacher between the bell and the bill, we have to be better. There is no end for improvement. Transformation should be within us. We need to transform the learning from pressure to pleasure learning. Teachers should be the motivators for the students.”

G K Bhat further said that a teacher should be truthful, enthusiastic and able, should be well-charactered, honest, encouraging and respectable. While concluding G K Bhat said that, if the political leaders really have respect towards teachers, let them each make atleast one of their children a teacher.

Pitambar K delivered the vote of thanks. Sudhakar Pejavar and Madhuri compered the programme.

Courtesy : Manglorean