Chandigarh: The department of school education, Chandigarh administration, marked Teachers’ Day with a ceremony at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, where Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria felicitated teachers for their contribution to education.

A cultural programme was also organised on the occasion. A total of 17 teachers received the state award, nine were given commendation certificates, and four received special recognition awards. The newly-introduced lifetime achievement award was presented to Dheerja Sharma, PGT English at GMSSS-40, for her work as an educator, writer, orator, and social worker.

Addressing the gathering, Kataria underlined the role of teachers in shaping society, drawing on references from the Ramayana and the example of Chanakya’s guidance to Chandragupta Maurya. He said teachers not only build academic knowledge but also instil empathy and values, contributing to nation-building. Referring to Dr S Radhakrishnan and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, he called teaching a noble service rather than just a profession.

The governor also suggested extending teachers’ participation beyond cultural programmes to include academic and sports competitions. Such initiatives, he said, would encourage innovation, teamwork, and overall development among educators, setting an example for students.

Congratulating the school education department for its performance in national indices such as the performance grading index and NAS rankings, Kataria acknowledged initiatives like Udaan, the Olympic Values Education Programme, and the mentorship programme.