The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today conferred National Awards on teachers of outstanding merit at a function in Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on the occasion of Teachers' Day.

Speaking on the occasion, the President stated that the first and foremost task was to improve the quality of education. He said it was necessary to design appropriate learning experiences for students and develop in them a scientific temperament. He emphasized that there was need for strengthening of teaching cadres by well-trained and motivated teachers involved in continuously improving education programmes. Comparing a teacher to a lamp which has the capability of lighting a thousand unlit lamps surrounding it, he expressed confidence that widening circles of light would dispel all the darkness in the motherland.

Also present on the occasion were Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of Human Resource Development and Shri E. Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs & Minister for Human Resource Development.