Kohima, September 4 (MExN): Teachers should encourage students to think critically on issues concerning the nation, society and environment. The goal must be to create good citizens capable of preserving the past and creating the future.
Governor of Nagaland State, PB Acharya, stated this in his Teachers’ Day (September 5) message.
“In the present day, learning is often equated with either collection of information or mastery of skills for occupations and jobs. Yes, that is important but I call upon you to widen the horizon of thinking of your students,” he noted in his message.
Further, he reiterated that “Lessons in good citizenship inculcated at a young age will go a long way in creating a better society. This could be as simple as traffic rules, cleanliness, gender sensitization, concern for the weak and reverence for the elders.”
While extending greetings and felicitation to teachers throughout Nagaland State, he recognized the “the dedicated services of the teachers of our nation, who are engaged in building and strengthening the intellectual and ethical foundations of our children.”
Teachers as ‘game changers’
Teaching is not just another profession but comes with “divine responsibility to guide and enlighten,” noted the Nagaland State Governor.
“The influences and experiences you share with your students will remain with them for a lifetime. You are also laying the foundation and the building blocks of the society,” he stated.
Thus, teachers should be the “game changers” of society and make students “an asset to the society, employable and create wealth out of our natural resources.”
However, he observed that “greed for easy money has changed the scenario and education has become a business.” Albeit a “small section of government teachers” do this, he expressed worry that government appointed teachers “are getting good salary compared to private school teachers but some of the Government teachers escape from their duties by appointing proxy teachers against their name in the place of postings.”
Noting that such practices cannot be “pardoned by God and the Government,” he stressed that “such practice should stop.”
