Pratibha Patil urges teachers to keep themselves updated

President Pratibha Patil today said teachers should update themselves with the latest knowledge in the fast changing society.

New Delhi, Sept 5 : President Pratibha Patil today said teachers should update themselves with the latest knowledge in the fast changing society.

Urging the teachers to provide children with the finest education enabling them to carry India to excellence, Patil said: "In today's fast changing society teachers have greater duties to perform. Students, even young primary school students, know a lot through television, Internet, etc."

"In this environment teachers need to keep themselves up-to-date with new knowledge and interpret the vast information that is available to the students so that they understand right from the wrong, truth from the untruth, and correct from the incorrect," she added.

Patil made these remarks in her address to the teachers after honouring 336 teachers for their contribution to education on Teachers' Day.

Expressing concerns over the high dropout rates in schools, Patil called for making education fun for children to reduce the dropout rates.

"Teachers should adopt innovative teaching methods to make studying in schools interesting and sustain the interest of students whereas to reduce the dropout rates from school and achieve the goal of universal elementary education," she said.

India recorded 50.39 per cent dropout rate in schools at primary level (up to seventh standard) in 2004-05.

Among the 336 teachers awarded from across the country, 17 were Sanskrit teachers and six Arabic and Persian teachers.

ANI