Childhood best time to instil good conduct: President Murmu at National Teachers Awards

New Delhi, School education forms the foundation of the education system, as knowledge and skills can be acquired at any time, but teaching good conduct during childhood is far more effective, President Droupadi Murmu said on Saturday.

The president made the comments in her address at the National Teachers' Award ceremony on the occasion of Teachers' Day.

"By diligently focusing on the intellectual, physical, and moral development of children in the early grades, our teachers can prepare future generations of excellent students and dutiful citizens.


"School education forms the foundation of the education system. While knowledge and skills can be acquired at any time, imparting lessons in good conduct during childhood proves far more effective," she said.

President Murmu highlighted that education is the most effective means of realising the ideal of equality of opportunity enshrined in our Constitution. She praised teachers for achieving a negligible primary school dropout rate.

The president acknowledged that many students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, with some being first-generation learners. Others transition from small village schools to large urban institutions, while some may be shy or very talented but lacking in self-confidence. Additionally, there are children with special needs.

"It is the special responsibility of teachers to instil confidence in them and uplift all such students who, for any reason, feel a sense of inadequacy. Our teachers breathe life into the education system. We must strive to ensure that not even a single student in our country is deprived of opportunities for quality education," she said.

President Murmu emphasised that teachers should instil knowledge, inspiration, morality, and sensitivity in all students through their affection and dedication.

She also noted that academic excellence, skill development, and entrepreneurship hold immense importance in the country's development.

"Establishing India as the skill capital of the world, and transforming it into a knowledge superpower, is among our national priorities. We are moving towards the goal of building a Viksit Bharat, and this goal can be achieved only through a world-class education system," she said.

On Saturday, President Murmu felicitated 82 teachers and educators selected from three departments. These include 48 teachers from the Department of School Education and Literacy, 21 teachers or faculty members from higher educational institutions and polytechnics, and 13 skill trainers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.