Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has proposed that verses from the Bhagavad Gita or Ramcharitmanas should be recited in school assemblies to instil spiritual learning among students.
Speaking at the state award distribution ceremony of the primary education and madhyamik education departments on Thursday, CM Adityanath advised teachers not to act like trade union members “as it goes against the dignity of the profession“.
“Teachers cannot and should not act like trade union members as it goes against the dignity of the profession. Whenever teachers act like trade union members, they risk undermining their own respect and honour,” the Chief Minister said at the programme held at the Yogiraj Baba Gambhirnath auditorium here.
Recalling former President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, CM Adityanath extended Teachers’ Day greetings to the state’s people. He described Radhakrishnan, a Bharat Ratna recipient, as an eminent scholar and a great philosopher, noting that his birth anniversary is celebrated as Teachers’ Day.
On the occasion, Minister of State for Basic Education (independent charge) Sandeep Singh said the foundation of any country’s progress lies in its culture and educated citizens. He emphasised that under CM Adityanath’s leadership, the Uttar Pradesh government is making the entire education system more robust and more organised.
“Efforts can be made to bring a spiritual dimension to the school atmosphere. For instance, a five-minute address could be delivered to the students during the morning assembly based on verses from the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita or Ramcharitmanas. Such efforts will leave a lasting positive impact in the minds of children,” the Chief Minister added.
He asked the teachers to present their demands democratically. He assured them that a memorandum written straightforwardly and focused on their issues would be considered “an order and not a plea”. Forty-one teachers from the primary education department and 13 from the Madhyamik education department were awarded at the event.
The Chief Minister personally handed out the awards to them. One of the teachers, Moolchand from Aligarh, had an injured leg, so CM Adityanath walked over to him from the stage to present the award.
The Chief Minister said India has always shown respect to “gurus” (teachers).
“Our scriptures reflect reverence for the guru with the mantra, ‘Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu’. In the quote ‘Guru Govind Donou Khade’, Sant Kabir Das has placed the guru even higher than the god. The reverence for the guru exists because knowledge cannot be attained without devotion. It is also said here that ‘Shraddhavan Labhate Gyanam’ (the devoted attains knowledge). And those who lack knowledge cannot achieve anything in life,” he added.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said a teacher is at the centre of the society’s reverence, but one must engage in hard work to become worthy of it.
“Simply obtaining a degree does not bring knowledge. Rigorous practice is also necessary. Dedication may be difficult, but its results are the best. Teachers should never shy away from the path of hard work and dedication,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said he has directed the education department to utilise the services of the award-winning teachers for the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) curricula and textbooks. He said the National Education Policy (NEP) has set new milestones under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
“In line with this, we should adhere to the traditional curricula and embrace innovation. Innovation can easily happen in every field,” he added.
CM Adityanath noted that as teachers are the builders of the country’s future, they must constantly focus on innovation. “This can begin right at the school level. Teachers, with the support of students and parents, can create a clean, beautiful and and green school environment,” he said.
The Chief Minister appealed to all teachers to align themselves with the Prime Minister’s vision of making India a developed country by 2047. He said the NEP also envisions a developed India, adding that this journey begins with the fulfilment of civic duties. “If we focus on our duties, rights will automatically follow,” he added.
This story is based on an IANS wire feed.
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