Gujarat Chief Minister Anandi Patel gave what she called "homework" today, to award winning teachers and principals, by asking them to adopt at least one 'anganwadi' in their respective area.
On the occasion of Teacher's Day, the Gujarat government felicitated 33 teachers and principals for their exceptional work at Mahatma Mandir here today in the presence of Gujarat Governor O P Kohli.
After giving away the 'Best Teacher Award' to 33 such teachers and principals, Patel, who used to work as a school teacher before she joined politics, asked them to spread their knowledge and pass on the benefit to others.
"I am basically a teacher, so I want to give you some homework. Award winning teachers of secondary and higher secondary schools should now adopt one primary school in their area. Similarly, each primary school teacher should adopt one 'anganwadi' in their area to spread their knowledge and benefit those who are deprived of it," Patel said in her speech.
Patel also asked teachers to take up the mission to clean villages. To inspire them, Patel claimed that she and her colleagues used to sweep floors of her school.
"I used to clean the school where I have served as a teacher for 30 years, but I don't see such sense of involvement
and belongingness among today's teachers. I want all teachers to take up a mission to clean villages. Just give it a try. People will also join your mission," Patel said.
On the occasion, Gujarat Governor Kohli asked teachers to keep their morale high, as they are much more than salaried employees.
"I urge teachers not to consider themselves as mere salaried employees, because their status is definitely more than that. Once we had global universities like Taxshila and Nalanda, but now, India's global rank in terms of education is 200th. So I urge teachers to work hard to regain that lost glory," Kohli said in his speech.
