Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
27 Teachers receive Lifetime Achievement Award on second day of FAP National Awards 2023 at Chandigarh University
Babushahi Bureau
Mohali, November 27, 2023; “The importance of quality education can be ascertained from the fact that it is only through the knowledge of technology that we can provide sustainable solutions to the challenges that the world is facing in the 21st century,” said Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Govt. of India, while speaking during the closing ceremony of the FAP National Awards 2023 on November 26 (Sunday) at the campus of Chandigarh University, Mohali.
Other prominent personalities who were present on the occasion included Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, PVSM, UYSM, YSM, VSM; Prof. (Dr.) David Waters, Academic Director for Overseas Campuses and Transnational Education (TNE); Ms. Amarjeet Kaur Dalam, Deputy Secretary Academic Planning Branch – Punjab School Education Board; Dr. Kulwant Singh, Global Ambassador World Cancer Care; Dr. Manpreet Singh Manna, Chandigarh University Vice-Chancellor; Dr. (Prof.) R.S. Bawa, Chandigarh University Pro-Chancellor; and Dr. Jagjit Singh Dhuri, President FAP.
On the 2nd day of the FAP National Awards 2023, a total of 416 awards were given, which included 364 Teachers, 26 Principals and 26 Schools. 337 Teachers were honoured with the Best Teacher Awards in Innovative Teaching category, out of which 281 awardees were from Private schools of Punjab while 56 private school teachers who received the awards were from across India.
27 Teachers bagged the Lifetime Achievement Award, including 22 teachers from Punjab, and 05 teachers from other states. In the Unique Practice Awards category, 52 awards were honoured to 26 Schools and 26 Principals of private sector, out of which 42 awardees were from Punjab and 10 from other Indian states.
While addressing the gathering at the FAP Awards 2023, Union MoS Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, said, “The importance given to education by PM Narendra Modi can be comprehended from the current allocation of Union Budget 2023 of 1.13 Lakh Crores, which is the highest ever allocation to the education sector.”
The New Education Policy implemented under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed India into a global education hub, he added.
Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan said, “Education is essential for promoting equity, sustainable development, and progress in the society and the nation. Providing greatest access to education is essential for uplifting the social status of the underprivileged sections of the society. Imparting quality education is essential for the growth of India, national integration, scientific and technological advancement of the nation, elevating the global status of the country, and realizing the dream of Honourable Prime Minister to make India a Developed Nation by 2047.”
He further said, “India has the highest number of youth population in the world, and education plays a crucial role in providing them the opportunities for their growth and development. The salient feature of the NEP, which has become the world’s biggest reform in the field of education, is that on one hand, it provides flexibility to the students to pursue multidisciplinary education while on the other hand it prepares the youth of India for the future as it lays stress on emerging technologies.
“There must be an integration amongst the institutions at all the levels of education so that the academic progress of every student can be monitored and hence it can help in improving the skills of our youth, which can lead to their employment. For India to attain the target of becoming a Developed Nation by 2047, educational institutions will have to play a crucial role,” said Dr. Ranjan.
Prof. (Dr.) David Waters, Academic Director for Overseas Campuses and Transnational Education (TNE), said, “Getting educated not only helps in improving the interpersonal skills of an individual but also helps in developing an economic upliftment path for the family, society, and the nation. FAP National Awards represents the pinnacle of excellence in school education in India. These awards recognize the efforts of private schools in India, and also encourages them to further improve their performance in various quality parameters which will ultimately lead to improvement in the level of education in India.”
President FAP, Dr. Jagjit Singh Dhuri said, “In the state of Punjab, the private schools have an enrolment of about 55% of the total number of students studying at various levels of school education. Therefore, private schools are playing a huge role in improving the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), especially of the girl students in the state. The FAP Awards is an attempt to recognize the efforts and contributions made by the private schools in making Punjab a leading state in the field of education. The private schools are also helping the students belonging to economically weaker sections of the society to get quality education so that they can uplift their social and economic status.”
Dr. Manpreet Singh Manna, Chandigarh University Vice-Chancellor said, “Chandigarh University has always supported for the cause of quality education and to get associated with the FAP National Awards is one such step in this direction. While on one hand, the Federation of Associations of Punjab is working to improve the level of education in the state of Punjab at the ground level, on the other hand, Chandigarh University is contributing in making Punjab a preferred destination for higher education in India.”