CM bestows 9 educators with state awards at Teachers’ Day event

PANAJI: Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar presented nine teachers with state awards on Wednesady, at an event held to celebrate Teachers’ Day (Spetember 5).
Kashi Shablo Naik who teaches at a school in Paikul, Sattari and Surekha Naik, a teacher in Gauthan, Pilleyan received awards in the primary section.
Assistant teachers Balchandra Damodar Bhave and Vivek Dayanand Bodke from high schools in Valpoi and Mandrem respectively were awarded in the secondary section, while assistant teacher Umar Farooque A Goundi from AIM Salcete High School received the award in the secondary section category.
Education secretary Nila Mohanan said although the state is doing well in education sector, it has to deal with difficulties presented by technology and social media. “Technology cannot replace student-teacher relationships. But, there is definitely scope to harness technology to enhance teacher-student relationship. It is our duty to think about ways and means to do this,” Mohanan said, requesting heads of schools to brainstorm and devise methods to take the younger generation forward. She urged students to perform well and always remember the contribution of their teachers.
Director of education Gajanan Bhat said the government has settled grievances of para teachers, pre-primary teachers and done away with 20% quota system of selection grade for teachers, adding that Goa spends a substantial portion of total financial outlay on education compared to other states that hardly spent 10%.