New Delhi, 05 September (H.S.): President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said that the goal of building a developed India, or Viksit Bharat, can be achieved only through quality education. She emphasised that education is the most effective means of translating the constitutional ideal of equality of opportunity into reality and stressed that no student in the country should be deprived of access to good education.

Addressing the National Teachers’ Awards-2026 ceremony in New Delhi on the occasion of Teachers’ Day, the President said that a society that respects its teachers is truly a progressive society. She described teachers as the vital force of the education system, saying that through their affection, dedication and commitment, they nurture knowledge, inspiration, ethical values and sensitivity among students.

Murmu recalled her experience of teaching at the Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre in Rairangpur, Odisha, and said that she had also learned a great deal from her students. She described the love and affection she received from them as one of the greatest achievements of her life.

The President expressed happiness over the significant representation of teachers from schools in rural areas among this year’s national award recipients. She said that watching short films highlighting the contributions and achievements of the award-winning teachers had further strengthened her belief that dedicated teachers are at the forefront of nation-building.

Referring to a teacher from a village in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district, Murmu highlighted how the teacher had used modern educational tools to make the teaching of biology more effective for children. She described the initiative as an excellent example of contemporary teaching methods and the innovative use of technology in education.

The President also noted the significant progress made in reducing the school dropout rate at the primary level. She said that around 12 years ago, the dropout rate at the primary level was approximately 4.5 per cent, whereas it has now become negligible. She attributed this achievement to the sustained efforts of teachers across the country.

Murmu said India is steadily advancing towards the objective of becoming a developed nation and that this transformation can be realised only with the support of a world-class education system. She reiterated that the country must ensure that every student has access to quality education and that no child is denied the opportunity to learn and progress.

The President’s message also underscored the broader role of teachers in shaping responsible citizens and strengthening the foundations of an inclusive and progressive society. She stressed that education must go beyond academic learning and help students develop values, confidence, knowledge and a sense of responsibility towards the nation and society.

The National Teachers’ Awards are presented annually to recognise teachers who have made outstanding contributions to improving the quality of education and enriching the lives of their students. This year, President Murmu conferred the awards on 48 school teachers selected from across the country.

On Saturday, the President also presented National Awards to 21 teachers and faculty members from higher education institutions and polytechnics. The awardees included 12 teachers and faculty members from central higher education institutions, five from state universities and four from polytechnics.

Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministers of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary and Sukanta Majumdar, along with other dignitaries, attended the ceremony.

Teachers’ Day is observed in India every year on September 5 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, former President, philosopher and eminent educationist. In her Teachers’ Day message, President Murmu also emphasised that teachers should guide students to become good human beings, embrace innovative teaching methods and encourage independent thinking and a spirit of enquiry.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar