Governor, Chief Minister and Education Minister Honor Outstanding Teachers on Teachers’ Day
Dehradun: On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, the prestigious “Shailesh Matiyani State Educational Award” felicitation ceremony was held at the Raj Bhavan on Friday. The ceremony was graced by Governor Lt. General Gurmeet Singh (Retd), Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, who honored 16 distinguished teachers for their exceptional contribution to education in the state.
The awards for 2024 were presented to 09 elementary school teachers, 05 secondary school teachers, one teacher trainer, and one Sanskrit teacher, recognizing their dedication, innovation, and service to the academic community.
Governor’s Address: Teachers Are the Architects of Society
Congratulating the awardees, the Governor described the honor as a tribute to the hard work, commitment, and selfless service of the entire teaching fraternity. He emphasized that teachers are not merely sources of knowledge but also builders of character, morality, and cultural values.
“Education should not be confined to preparing children for employment; it must nurture cultured, responsible, and patriotic citizens,” he said.
The Governor stressed that after parents, teachers are the true guides who shape the future of children and hold the power to steer them in the right direction. He expressed confidence that teachers will play a decisive role in realizing India’s vision of becoming a ‘Vishwaguru’ by 2047.
Highlighting Uttarakhand’s long-standing legacy as a center of learning, he said it is the collective responsibility of educators to strengthen this tradition. In today’s digital era, he added, teachers have a critical role in preventing distraction, fostering wisdom, and helping students develop balanced perspectives on life. He urged educators to cultivate reading habits among children and engage them in sports, cultural, and creative pursuits.
Chief Minister’s Remarks: Guiding Students in a Changing Era
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, while extending Teachers’ Day greetings, lauded teachers for shaping the personality and future of students through their knowledge, experience and dedication. Congratulating the award recipients, he paid tribute to Shailesh Matiyani, a celebrated storyteller whose writings captured the struggles, spirit and sensitivity of Uttarakhand’s mountain life.
“Since ancient times, the Guru has been seen not only as a teacher but as a lifelong guide, instilling patriotism, discipline, morality, and values in students,” the Chief Minister said.
He noted that in the rapidly changing digital era, teachers hold an even greater responsibility — to balance modern education with cultural, ethical, and moral grounding.
The Chief Minister outlined several initiatives being undertaken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to improve education in Uttarakhand, including training and skill development programs for teachers. He reminded that Uttarakhand was the first state in India to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and launch ‘Bal Vatika’ in 2022, marking the start of an educational transformation. The state has also introduced a ‘State Curriculum Framework’ for basic education and the ‘Kaushal Program’ to enhance skills, entrepreneurship, and Indian knowledge traditions among students.
Education Minister’s Update: Modernizing Learning Across Uttarakhand
Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat shared updates on recent advancements in the education sector. He informed that virtual classes have been introduced in 1,340 schools and smart classrooms in 950 schools across the state. Sports complexes are being developed in every district, vocational courses have been introduced in 550 schools and tablets have been provided to 22,000 primary school teachers. Furthermore, about 9,500 recruitments are underway in the education department to strengthen human resources.
Dignitaries Present
The program began with a welcome address by Secretary of School Education, Ravinath Raman, who provided an overview of the award ceremony. Additional Secretary Ranjana Rajguru proposed a vote of thanks. The event was attended by family members of the late Shailesh Matiyani, including his sons Rakesh and Geeta Matiyani, senior officials from the Education Department, and the award-winning teachers.
