No state-level Teachers’ Day function today

No state-level Teachers’ Day function today
Reason: Punjab Education Minister Sikander Maluka is abroad
Gagan K Teja/TNS

Patiala, September 4
While the Punjab Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka is abroad on an ‘official tour’, Punjab government will not be holding the state-level Teachers Day celebration function on September 5 this year. Though the department’s high-ups have made an official announcement of the date as to when the function would be held, sources claimed the state-level function will be held on October 9 at Patiala and about 45 teachers will be honoured for their contribution in the field of education.
The decision has not gone down well with teachers, who feel it is their right to be honoured on a day dedicated to them. They feel politics has taken a toll on all issues and the real spirit behind these celebrations has died.
Former Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University Dr Joginder Singh Puar attributed this lack of spirit to various organisations which have been reduced to dummy organisations and are just concerned with making their political presence felt. “The collective wisdom that once existed in all organisations, including the teaching bodies, is dying. They are not concerned as to whether the awards should be given on Teachers’ Day or not. Their first preference is that everything should happen in the presence of a minister so that they could mark their attendance in his eyes. Who cares as to when the function should be held? If the minister was unavailable, anybody else could have been the chief guest, but the function should have been held,” he added.
“It is sad that such prestigious occasions, which come once a year, are at the mercy of politicians who choose to celebrate these days according to their convenience. A few days back, following the unavailability of the Indian Sports Minister Jitendra Singh, the Sports Ministry did not give away the sports awards on the National Sports Day, ie August 29 and later held the ceremony on August 31” said former coach of the Indian wrestling squad PR Sondhi. Meanwhile, Principal Secretary of the Punjab Education Department Anjali Bhawra said the function was not being held on the Teachers’ Day because the minister was out of the country, but refused to divulge the reason behind his visit.