PHOTO: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY

HONOURED: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the National Teacher Award 2005 in New Delhi on Tuesday. The recipients are K.K. Karpagam, K. Yogeeswari, S. Nellaiappan, M. Arunachalam, V. Sangili, N. Thirunavukkarasu, E. Gomathinayagam, S. Muthukrishnan, S. Shanmugam, D. Singaram, A. Antoniraj, V. Thangaraju and Kalai Chelvan S.

NEW DELHI: It was an occasion for President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to take on his favourite role as a teacher at the National Award to Teachers 2005 function here on Tuesday. Sharing his childhood experiences and the teachers who left a mark on his life, Mr. Kalam also administered a 10-point oath to the award-winning teachers so that they could complete their "mission" of nation-building.

Asserting that teachers have to realise that they are the builders of society, Mr. Kalam said society could be built only when students are made proficient in studies and become enlightened citizens. It was important to instil values in children at the primary and secondary school level, as it was not easy to do so after they are 17, he added.

Going down memory lane to talk about his primary school teacher, Mr. Kalam said he had not only taught him how birds flew, but had "injected" in him a "mission." He also talked about his high school teacher Iyadurai Solomon who inspired him. "He taught me Geography, English and Social Sciences when I was in the fifth form." Stating that Reverend Solomon's goal was to make average students good and good students outstanding, Mr. Kalam said he gave free tuitions to children.

"While I was in college, I remember the lectures given by the highest authority of the Jesuit Institution, Father Rector Kalathil of St. Joseph's College at Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu. He used to take classes on moral sciences. In this class, he used to give lectures on personalities such as Buddha, Confucius, St. Augustine, Califa Omar, Mahatma Gandhi, Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, besides some scientific personalities and moral stories linked to our civilisational heritage."

Giving a chance to teachers to exchange places and learn, Mr. Kalam then administered an oath to the teachers. Asking them to love teaching, he made them promise that teaching would be their life's mission.

Stressing teachers' important contribution to national development, he asked them to take a vow to not just shape students but also ignite them with values.

Public recognition

The Scheme of National Award to Teachers was introduced in 1958 to honour outstanding teachers and publicly recognise their contribution to education. Over 300 teachers received awards at the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh said teachers shape the country's future. "They are the ones that impart values and responsibilities to students which they need as citizens," he added.

Referring to the Sarva Shikshya Abhiyan, Mr. Singh said: "It has made a difference and the biggest problem of drop-outs that we faced has been reduced."

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