Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that the dedication and commitment of teachers would be crucial for achieving the objectives of the Right to Education Act which has the potential to transform schools and lives of children.
Interacting with a group of meritorious teachers in New Delhi, Dr. Singh noted that teachers have a critical role to play in shaping the future of the country and they should inculcate progressive and rational attitudes among children maintaining a balance between tradition and modernity.
He sought to strike a personal chord with the teachers by pointing out that teaching has always been “close to my heart” as he had started his career as a teacher.
“The Right to Education legislation that we have enacted has the potential to transform our schools and the lives of our children. The implementation of this legislation is not just a matter of providing more resources, it is the dedication and commitment of our teachers that will ultimately help us to achieve its goals and objectives,” Dr. Singh said.
He said more and more children with diverse backgrounds will enter the school system in the future. “Your challenge therefore will be to work towards a democratic classroom in which all children participate in the learning processes as equal partners,” the Prime Minister told the teachers.
Emphasising that teachers need to ensure that the country’s unique cultural heritage is preserved while preparing the children for global citizenship, he said they “must maintain a balance between tradition and modernity.”
