“Shailesh Matiyani State Educational Awards” presented at Raj Bhavan
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 5 Sep: On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, the “Shailesh Matiyani State Educational Awards” ceremony was organised at the Raj Bhavan here on Friday. Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd), Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and Education Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat felicitated 16 teachers selected for the 2024 awards. Among them were 9 primary teachers, 5 secondary teachers, 1 teacher trainer, and 1 Sanskrit teacher.
Congratulating the award-winning teachers, the Governor said this honour represents the hard work and dedication of the entire teaching community. He emphasised that teachers not only impart knowledge but are also builders of character, morality, and values. Education, he stressed, should not remain limited to employment, but must shape children into cultured, responsible, and patriotic citizens.
The Governor further said that after parents, teachers are the true guides of children, playing the most important role in taking their future in the right direction. He expressed confidence that, by 2047, teachers will play a decisive role in making India a Vishwaguru. He noted that Uttarakhand has historically been a major centre of education, which makes it even more important to strengthen this tradition.
In today’s era of the internet and social media, the Governor added, teachers have a vital role in protecting children from distractions and instilling in them wisdom and a right outlook towards life. He urged teachers to cultivate reading habits among children and to engage them in sports, cultural, and creative activities.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami extended his greetings to teachers and said that shaping the personality and future of students with their knowledge, experience, and dedication is a great responsibility of teachers. Congratulating the recipients of the Shailesh Matiyani State Educational Excellence Awards, he said that Shailesh Matiyani was a writer who deeply understood the pain and emotions of the mountains. Through stories, novels, essays, and contemporary reflections, he vividly portrayed the struggles of Uttarakhand’s hill communities and rural life.
The Chief Minister added that, in India’s ancient tradition, the Guru has always been regarded not only as a teacher but as a guide in every aspect of life. Teachers sow the seeds of patriotism, discipline, morality, and values in their students. In today’s digital age, their role has become even more crucial in balancing modern education with cultural heritage, values, and ethics.
Highlighting the initiatives of the state government under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said that several schemes have been launched to improve the quality of education in Uttarakhand. Special programmes have been introduced for teacher training and skill development. Uttarakhand was the first state to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. In 2022, the state introduced Bal Vatika, marking the beginning of an educational revolution. Uttarakhand has also become the first state in India to prepare a “State Curriculum Framework” for foundational education. The Kaushalam Programme has been launched to instil skills, entrepreneurship, and Indian knowledge traditions among children.
Education Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat presented the achievements and innovations of the department, stating that virtual classes have been introduced in 1,340 schools and smart classes in 950 schools. He added that sports complexes are being built in all districts this year. Vocational courses have been started in 550 schools, and 22,000 primary teachers have been provided tablets. The Education Minister also stated that, about 9,500 recruitments are expected in the education department this year.
During the event, Secretary (School Education) Ravinath Raman welcomed the attendees and shared details of the ceremony. Additional Secretary (School Education) Ranjana Rajguru proposed the vote of thanks. Present at the programme were Rakesh Matiyani and Geeta Matiyani (son and wife of the late Shailesh Matiyani), senior officials of the Education Department, and the award-winning teachers.
