School Education Is the Foundation of the Education System – Droupadi Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu said school education is the foundation of the education system and teachers have a crucial responsibility to ensure that children do not drop out of school. Speaking at the National Teachers’ Awards ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi on Teachers’ Day, she presented the awards to 82 teachers and educators selected for 2026. Four awardees were from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, including IIT Hyderabad professor Keerthi Chandra Sahu, government teacher Bompelli Bhavani from Kamareddy, AIIMS Mangalagiri faculty member Dr Arun Babu and government teacher Rajesh Kauluri from Vizianagaram. Telugu teacher Jelli Prakash Rao from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was also among the award recipients.

Murmu said education is the key to achieving the constitutional goal of equal opportunities and noted that teachers’ efforts have helped bring the primary school dropout rate close to zero. She urged teachers to focus on children’s intellectual, physical and moral development from the early years and work to ensure access to quality education for every student. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who later met the awardees at his residence, urged teachers to help reduce children’s screen time by encouraging sports and creative activities. He also asked teachers to engage with parents about children’s mobile and television use, promote the dignity of labour and remain alert to behavioural changes that could indicate drug-related concerns.

The awardees were recognised for innovative contributions to education. Bhavani used play-based teaching and digital tools in pre-primary education, helping increase enrolment at her school from 40 to 130 students. IIT Hyderabad professor Keerthi Chandra Sahu was recognised for his contributions to research, teaching and academic leadership, while Dr Arun Babu was honoured for innovations in paediatrics teaching and research. Rajesh Kauluri effectively used AI technology in teaching. The recognition highlighted the growing role of technology and innovative teaching methods alongside the broader responsibility of educators in shaping responsible citizens.