Everlasting Pyngrope, Principal of Myngken Christian Higher Secondary School, Ri Bhoi district, Meghalaya was conferred with the National Teachers’ Award today by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu at a function held in New Delhi. He is among the 82 teachers awarded with this year’s honor on the occasion of Teachers’ Day.
Pyngrope has been honoured with the National Award for Teachers 2024 for his outstanding contribution to education and nation-building. He has worked for the School Improvement Plan, particularly supporting Children with Special Needs. His school uses ICT through computer labs and smart classrooms, fostering effective and interactive learning of the students, involving technology as media for active learning. He has focused on CWSN students’ education through learning materials and mentorship, collaborating with the District Social Welfare Department to help students.
The Principal has worked for the benefit of the young people of the area, especially for the poor and marginalized students who cannot go to the town for higher education.
Addressing the gathering, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu said that teachers have to prepare such citizens who are not only educated but also sensitive, honest and enterprising. She stated that moving ahead in life is success, but the meaning of life lies in working for the welfare of others. We should have compassion. Our conduct should be ethical. A successful life lies in the meaningful life. Teaching these values to the students is the duty of teachers.
The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, has selected 50 teachers for this year’s National Teachers’ Awards. They have been selected through a rigorous transparent and online three stages – District, State and National level selection process by the Department of School Education and Literacy. The 50 selected teachers are from 28 States, 3 UTs and 6 Organizations. Out of 50 selected teachers, 34 are males, 16 are female, 2 are differently abled and 1 working with CWSN. In addition, 16 teachers from the Department of Higher Education and 16 teachers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship were also awarded.
NEP 2020 recognizes that motivated, energized and capable faculty is critical for the advancement of the students, institution and profession. It also envisages incentives such as rewards and recognition to cultivate a culture of excellence in the education ecosystem. As such, in the year 2023, it was decided to institute two categories of awards for HEIs and Polytechnics under the umbrella of NAT, hitherto restricted to School teachers only. The 16 select teachers are from Polytechnics, State Universities and Central Higher Education Institutions.
The President said that teachers play the most important role in success of any education system. Teaching is not just a job. It is a sacred mission of human development. If a child is not able to perform well, then the education system and teachers have a bigger responsibility. She pointed out that often teachers pay special attention only to those students who perform well in exams. However excellent academic performance is only one dimension of excellence. A child may be a very good sportsperson; some child might have leadership skills; another child enthusiastically participates in social welfare activities. The teacher has to identify the natural talent of each child and bring it out.
