ITANAGAR, Sep 4: Speaking at the AAPSA-Sahodaya Teachers’ Day celebrations here at Model English School, Honchun Ngandam, Minister, Education and Skill Development placed on record the role that his teachers have played in his life. 

 “I am what I am today due to my teachers”, said Honchun in an emphatic tone and called upon the student community to respect and obey their teachers.  He also congratulated AAPSA for the tireless work being done to enhance the educational scenario of the State and expressed the desire to include private school teachers as well in the Government Teachers’ Awards.  

Honchun asked the student community to remove from their minds the concept that ‘Arunachalees are poor in Maths and Science’ through hard work and become Science and Mathematics teachers.  

“This will happen when Science and Maths teachers will come from Arunachalee students themselves,” reiterated the Minister.  He also thanked the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister for the constant support being given to him to revamp the Department of Education.  

Earlier, talking as Guest of Honour, Madhu Rani Teotia, Secretary, Education, lauded AAPSA for coming up with the idea of a combined teachers’ day celebrations and for the concept of Teacher of the Year Award for private school teachers.  The Secretary while appreciating all the items performed by the students of various schools,  specially congratulated the students of Holy Cross School for the innovative and inspiring skit which centered around the story of how a proactive teacher made a real change in the life of a student who was otherwise considered useless by some other teachers. 

She also recommended to the Minister present to include private school teachers as well in the Government Teachers’ Awards and expressed the desire to sit with AAPSA Executive Body to discuss matters of educational importance. 

In his exhortation, Special Guest, Rt. Rev. Dr. John Thomas, Bishop of Itanagar, narrated the story of a student who due to rejection from all quarters had decided to commit suicide and gone to class for the last time and how the teacher gave essay writing as class work to be done and after the work congratulated the student for the good work.  This made a change in the life of the student and later he became a journalist! Bishop John Thomas encouraged the teachers to be mentors to the children entrusted to their care. 

Zaseyi Veswuh, Managing Director, Model English school delivered the welcome address while Techi James, President of AAPSA gave the vote of thanks.  The presence of Gollo Yam, DDSE Capital Complex, Dr. V. N. Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Arunodaya University, Fr. C.C. Jose, Director, Don Bosco College, Fr. Kamil Horo, Parish Priest, Catholic Church, Itanagar and Bomyom Ronya, Founder Chairman of Model English School made the celebrations all the more special. 

Teacher of the Year Awards were presented to the teachers and students from selected schools performed cultural items to honor the teachers.  In all, 231 teachers and a large number of students from various private schools of the Capital Complex, including Banderdewa and Doimukh took part in the Teachers’ Day extravaganza.