79 teachers honored with State Teacher Awards at State-Level Ceremony in Panchkula
Chandigarh September 5: On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini made a significant announcement that, from the upcoming academic session, teachers associated with higher education, technical education, and technology education will also be honored with the State Teacher Award. Currently, this award is conferred only upon teachers associated with school education.
He added that it is the government's priority to encourage all teachers who make outstanding contributions to the field of education.
Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini made this announcement while addressing the State level function on Teachers’ Day held in Panchkula on Saturday as a distinguished guest.
Haryana Governor Professor Ashim Kumar Ghosh, the Chief Guest, lady Governor Smt. Mitra Ghosh, and Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda were also present at the ceremony. On the occasion, Governor Professor Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, and Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda honored 79 teachers for their outstanding contribution to the field of education. The awardees were presented with a shawl, medal, certificate, a cash award of Rs 1 lakh each, and two advance salary increments.
Extending his heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all teachers on Teachers’ Day, the Chief Minister said that the ceremony was an opportunity to express gratitude for their dedication and commitment to education. He said that the day also marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the great teacher and former President of India, who dedicated his birthday to teachers. Therefore, his birth anniversary is celebrated as Teachers’ Day. He was a great philosopher, an ideal teacher, and an able statesman.
The Chief Minister remarked that, in Indian culture, the ‘Guru’ has always held a place of the highest reverence. A teacher is one who recognizes the potential hidden within every child. Parents give birth to a child, but a teacher shapes the child’s personality. A teacher does not merely help a child pass examination but also equips them to face the challenges of life.
While maintaining a direct dialogue with the honored teachers, Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that each of them would likely have a similar story of dedication and commitment to share. He said that one teacher may have brought a child who had dropped out of school back to the classroom; another may have purchased a book for a student from their own pocket; someone may have devoted extra time after school hours to help a student struggling with studies; another may have persuaded a girl’s parents to allow her to continue her education. Some may have created science models using locally available materials in the absence of a proper laboratory, while others may have sensed the sadness in a student’s eyes and helped prevent them from going down the wrong path. He said that although the teachers had come to the stage today to receive an award, their true reward had been earned the day a child told them, “Teacher, you changed my life.”
The Chief Minister observed that times are changing rapidly. Artificial Intelligence, robotics, digital technology, and the internet have opened countless avenues for accessing knowledge. Children can now obtain information with a single click, but there is a difference between information and wisdom. A machine can provide information, but it cannot instill values. AI can prepare a lesson plan, but it cannot place a reassuring hand on the shoulder of a disheartened child and inspire confidence. Only a teacher can perform this role. Therefore, in the age of technology, the role of teachers has not diminished; rather, it has become even more important. Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi has also recognized this changing role of education. Through the new National Education Policy, the education system has been steered away from rote learning towards understanding, skills, innovation, and Indian values. The Chief Minister said that the objective of education is now not merely to produce degree-holders, but to nurture citizens who are competent, self-reliant, empathetic, and committed to the nation.
He stated that Haryana is also continuously strengthening and improving its education system in line with this vision. The government believes that every rupee spent on education is an investment in the future of the state and its children. Accordingly, the budget for school education for the current financial year has been increased to Rs 18,538 crore, compared to Rs 8,400 crore in 2014-15. To expand access to quality education across the state, the number of Model Sanskriti Schools has been increased to 218. In addition, 251 PM SHRI Schools have been developed, while 250 schools are being developed as CM-EEE Schools this year. These schools will provide students studying in both Hindi and English medium with better opportunities for modern and quality education. Similarly, 719 Schools of Excellence have been opened to provide children with better educational opportunities closer to their homes. To promote sports alongside academics, playgrounds are being developed in 3,328 schools, with Rs 1 lakh being provided to each school for this purpose. Furthermore, one school in every district is being developed as a Centre of Excellence for sports.
Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini stated that innovation, science, and modern technology-based education are being promoted in schools across the state. Through Atal Tinkering Labs and laboratories focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), students are being introduced to emerging technologies such as robotics, 3D printing, coding, Artificial Intelligence, and Augmented Reality. The Haryana Mathematics Olympiad has also been launched to encourage students’ interest in mathematics. Students are additionally being taken on educational visits to prestigious institutions such as ISRO and DRDO.
He said that the government has launched the ‘Skill Business Challenge’ with the objective of transforming youth from job seekers into job creators. Through this initiative, students can develop their innovative ideas and turn them into startups. Seed funding of up to Rs 1 lakh is being provided to each of the 67 selected teams. In addition, a school is being developed as a ‘School of Excellence in Skill Education’ to enable students to acquire modern and industry-relevant skills. He further stated that the ‘Super-100’ and ‘Buniyaad’ programmes for talented students in government schools have been strengthened. The number of seats under the Super-100 programme has been increased from 400 to 500, while a decision has been taken to establish two new residential centres for the Buniyaad programme. Sh Nayab Singh Saini expressed happiness that, in 2026, 38 students from the Super-100 programme secured admission to IITs and 44 students to NITs. In addition, several students qualified for NEET and secured admission to MBBS programmes.
The Chief Minister added that the government is also continuously working for the welfare of teachers. A new teacher transfer policy has been implemented to ensure greater transparency in the transfer process. Special emphasis is also being placed on the continuous professional development of teachers. For this purpose, a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Framework has been prepared in collaboration with expert institutions. Two phases of teacher training under the ‘Nipun Haryana’ programme have already been completed, and approximately 32,000 Primary Teachers (PRTs) are scheduled to undergo training next month.
*A teacher is not merely a shaper of character but a guide for life – Education Minister Sh Mahipal Dhanda*
Earlier, while addressing the gathering, Haryana Education Minister Sh Mahipal Dhanda said that Teachers’ Day is not merely a formal occasion for distributing awards. It is an opportunity to honor the great Indian tradition of the Guru (teacher), which has nurtured and strengthened the foundations of the nation for centuries. He said that, in Indian scriptures and culture, a teacher is not regarded merely as a source of knowledge, but as a shaper of character and a guide for life. The fact that a great teacher like Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan went on to become the President of India is a clear testament to the profound importance accorded to the contribution of teachers in Indian society.
He said that a decade ago, the pass percentage in board examinations in Haryana was around 40 percent; today, it has risen to a historic 90 percent. He said this transformation has not been achieved merely on paper, but is the result of the dedicated efforts of teachers, including conducting extra classes, providing personalized support to academically weaker students, working tirelessly, and building strong trust with parents.
The Minister stated that Haryana is setting new benchmarks across various areas of education. In line with the Chief Minister’s announcement, the initiative has now been expanded up to Class 5. Digital assessment of children from Balvatika (preschool) to Class 4 is being conducted through the ‘Nipun Haryana Teacher App’. He added that free stationery, uniforms, and school bags have been provided to students at a cost of Rs 10 crore.
He mentioned that a framework comprising 160 parameters has been implemented for the comprehensive and precise evaluation of schools. Dual-desk seating and modern classrooms are being provided across schools. In addition, 250 schools, including CM-SHRI, PM-SHRI, and Model Sanskriti Schools, are being developed as model institutions. He said that French and German language courses have been introduced in 26 schools to provide students with exposure to global opportunities. Students are also being taken on educational visits to ISRO, and in the future, educational tours to France and Germany will also be organized for them.
He added that the number of seats under the ‘Super-100’ programme has been increased from 400 to 500. Through initiatives such as Mission Buniyaad, the establishment of 2,238 skill labs, and the provision of internet connectivity and smart boards, efforts are being made to empower every child in Haryana with modern learning opportunities. The recruitment of 1,200 new Primary Teachers (PRTs) for the Mewat cadre has further strengthened the state’s educational infrastructure.
Mayor Sh Shyam Lal Bansal, Principal Secretary of the School Education Department Sh Vijay Singh Dahiya, Director General of Secondary Education Sh Jitender Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Sh Satpal Sharma, BJP District President Sh Ajay Mittal, Media Secretary to Chief Minister Sh Praveen Atrey, senior officials of the Education Department, teachers, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.