Students of DAV, Pokhariput, pose in front of a floral art. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 5: Set with projectors and LCD screens, city schools today patiently waited to experience Teachers’ Day of a different kind.

“We had made all the arrangements yesterday itself. All the equipment was already there in the school and we just had to hire a local cable operator to assemble the things,” said Capital High School headmistress Sonamika Ray.

Students were asked to reach the school by 7am so that they could listen to the chief minister’s speech from 7.30am to 8am. However, the early morning rain played spoilsport and many students reached the school late.

“By the time I reached, the chief minister’s speech was over. But I could hear school and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra,” said Amulya Prasad Sethi of Class IX.

In his speech, Naveen stressed on the need for quality human resource and the state government’s efforts to enhance the school curriculum on the lines of CBSE. He also emphasised on skill training.

Students of DAV, Chandrasekharpur, watch Modi’s televised address in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

The students were asked to disperse and return at 2.30pm to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the schoolchildren from 3pm to 4.45pm.

Although the number of students coming to the second session was much less, the ones who sat down to listen to Modi loved the question-and-answer sessions. The speech was greeted with cheering applause in many schools.

Students listened to Modi’s speech and clapped every now and then. “It was a really great experience listening to the Prime Minister. Everything he said was inspiring and the chief minister interacting with teachers in person was an amazing experience. Teachers’ Day for me could not have been better,” said Meerarani Sarangi, a teacher.

The scene was no different in private schools where students enjoyed speeches of both Naveen and Modi.

Students of DAV Public School, Unit-VIII, Delhi Public School, Mothers Public School and SAI International School gathered at their respective schools to watch the telecasts.

Students of Unit-III Boys High School in Bhubaneswar watch Naveen’s televised address to the students. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

THOSE WHO MISSED IT

Some government schools in the city, including the Unit-IX Girls High School, Text Book Press High School, Government High School, Khandagiri, Baramunda Government High School and NAC Colony School, were not able to make arrangements for the telecasts due to power cut or lack of equipment. In a few schools, the students’ turnout was
extremely low. The Saraswati Shishu Mandir group of schools had made no special arrangements to telecast the speeches. They had their usual “Guru puja” and dispersed.

TIME TO FELICITATE

As many as 10 primary and secondary teachers of Odisha were felicitated with the Rashtriya Gourav Award for the year 2013 by President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi today. At the state award function for the year 2011 and 2012 organised here, 75 teachers of various primary and high schools were awarded.

GIFT FOR STUDENTS

Meena Radio, as the Meena ki Duniya radio magazine series, was released by chief minister Naveen Patnaik on the ocassion. The radio set and a flash drive loaded with the 160 episodes have been made available to the target schools. The schools have to turn on the radio at 10.30am to maintain uniformity. Students of Classes VI, VII and VIII will gather at one place to listen to the programme. The designated teacher-facilitator will conduct the session. After the episode is over, the teacher will initiate a discussion on the topics raised. The entire session will take about half an hour.

FIVE QUOTES TO REMEMBER

Modi

1. We must question why the smartest students don’t choose to become teachers
2. Both teachers and students should not feel bad about cleaning jobs in school such as cleaning the toilet.
3. If your education is not enough, experience will teach you lessons
4. One should play and sweat and life shouldn’t be bogged down by books
5. Learn to live with nature

Naveen

1. Teachers should not discriminate between students and all the kids are special in their own way
2. It’s the responsibility of the teacher to find out the ability of the student and nurture it in the right direction
3. Human resource is very important for nation building
4. Skill training has to be introduced in school curriculum to make the students employment ready
5. The courses must be constantly updated as per the demands of the industry

Teachers cut a cake offered by the students at RD Women’s College in Bhubaneswar Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee