Dehradun: Sixteen teachers — 9 primary, 5 secondary, 1 trainer and 1 Sanskrit teacher — who were selected for the ‘Shailesh Matiyani State Educational Awards for the year 2024′, were honoured on the occasion of Teachers’ Day at a ceremony in Raj Bhawan on Friday.

The event was attended by Governor Lieutenant General (Retd) Gurmit Singh, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and education minister Dhan Singh Rawat.

The governor stated, “This honour symbolises the hard work and dedication of the entire teaching community. Teachers are not just providers of knowledge, but also builders of character, ethics and life values. The purpose of education should not be limited to employment; teachers should contribute to making children cultured, responsible and patriotic citizens.”

He expressed confidence that by 2047, teachers’ contributions will be decisive in making “India a global leader”. The governor noted that Uttarakhand has been a major centre of education, “which increases our responsibility to strengthen this tradition”.

CM Dhami emphasised the important responsibility teachers hold in shaping students’ personalities and futures through their experience, knowledge and hard work. He said Shailesh Matiyani deeply understood the pain and emotions of the mountains.

He added: “In our ancient tradition, the ‘guru’ is regarded not only as a teacher but also as a guide in every field of life. They plant the seeds of patriotism, discipline, ethics and values in their disciples. In today’s changing digital age, the role of teachers has become even more crucial, as they acquaint our children with modern education as well as culture, values and moral principles.”

Rawat provided information about the efforts and innovations made by the education department, stating that virtual classes have been started in 1,340 schools and smart classes in 950 schools across the state. He announced that sports complexes are being constructed in all districts this year. “Vocational courses have been introduced in 550 schools, and 22,000 primary teachers in the state have been provided with tablets… Around 9,500 recruitments are taking place in the education department this year,” he said.