National Teachers’ Day is annually observed across India on 5th September to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a renowned educationist, who served as the 1st Vice President and 2nd President of Independent India.
- He was born on September 5, 1888, at Tirutani, Madras Presidency, British India (now Tamil Nadu).
The day is celebrated to honour and recognise the invaluable contribution of teachers to our society.
Background:
i.Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan assumed office as the 2nd President of India in 1962, and some of his students approached him to seek permission to celebrate September 5 as a special day.
ii.He instead, requested them to observe September 5 as Teachers’ Day to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of teachers to society.
iii.The day was first observed on 5th September 1962, the 77th birthday of Dr. S Radhakrishnan.
- Since then, September 5 has been celebrated as National Teachers Day across India.
About Dr. S Radhakrishnan:
i.Radhakrishnan’s political career was marked by several significant positions, including his tenure as the Indian Ambassador to the Soviet Union (Now Russia) from 1949 to 1952, and represented India at UNESCO (1946–52).
ii.He served as the 1st Vice President of India from 1952 to 1962 and the 2nd President of India from May 13, 1962, to May 13, 1967.
iii.In 1931, he became the first Indian to hold a chair at Oxford University in England, the United Kingdom (UK).
iv.On April 17, 1975, he passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
v.Some of his notable works as an author and editor are: Hindu View of Life (1926); Bhagavad-gita (Editor) (1948); The Principal Upanishads (1953); A Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy (1957);
Awards/Honours:
i.He received a Knighthood from the British emperor King George V in 1936 for his excellence in teaching.
ii.In 1963 Dr. Radhakrishnan was honoured with the ‘British Royal Order of Merit‘. The British Government awarded him the title of ‘Sir’.
iii.The Government of India (GoI) honoured him with the first Bharat Ratna Award in 1954 for his contribution to the field of academics.
Related Observance:
i.The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed 5 October to be World Teachers’ Day in 1994 to commemorates the adoption of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO).
- It was an intergovernmental conference convened by UNESCO in Paris (France).
- 5 October also celebrates the adoption by the UNESCO General Conference in 1997 of the UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel.
National Awards to Teachers’ 2023:
On the occassion of the National Teachers Day 2023 (5th September 2023), President of India, Droupadi Murmu, conferred the National Award to Teachers’ 2023, to 75 selected Teachers across India at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
- The 75 honorees comprised 50 school teachers, 13 educators from higher education, and 12 teachers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
- Each award carries a certificate of merit, a cash award of Rs. 50,000, and a silver medal.
About National Awards to Teachers:
i.Every year on the occasion of National Teachers Day, the Ministry of Education(MoE), GoI confer National Awards to teachers, to encourage and appreciate them for their extraordinary contribution.
ii.The National Award to Teachers was instituted in 1958, and the guidelines were revised in 2018.
iii.From 2023, the scope of the NAT has been broadened to encompass teachers from the Department of Higher Education, the MoE, and the MSDE.
Purpose of the Award:
The purpose is to celebrate the unique contribution of some of the finest teachers in the country and to honour those teachers who through their commitment and industry have not only improved the quality of school education but also enriched the lives of their students.
2023 Award Events:
i.The Department of School Education & Literacy, MoE has organised a National level event on Teachers Day every year.
ii.The event serves as a platform to confer the National Awards to the best teachers of India, selected through a rigorous, transparent selection process.
Selection Process:
i.In the pursuit of recognising innovative teaching, research, community outreach, and contributions, a nomination drive was initiated, utilising online platforms to ensure widespread participation (Jan Bhagidari).
ii.This initiative was steered by the Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, MoE & MSDE, who established 3 distinct Independent National Juries, each consisting of renowned individuals, tasked with selecting exceptional educators.
Other Events:
i.Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the Malaviya Mission, a Teacher Training Programme during the National Teachers Day. This is a dedicated portal for the capacity building of faculty members in higher educational institutions.
ii.On the eve of Teachers’ Day (4th September 2023), Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi interacted with the winners of NAT 2023 at Lok Kalyan Marg, Delhi. All the 75 award winners participated in the interaction.
