President Draupadi Murmu said on Saturday that the goal of building a developed India can be achieved only on the strength of quality education. He said that education is the most effective medium to implement the ideals of equality of opportunity enshrined in the Constitution and it should be ensured that not a single student in the country is deprived of the right to good education.

Addressing the National Teacher Award-2026 ceremony organized in New Delhi on the occasion of Teacher’s Day, the President said that the society which respects its teachers is a progressive society in the true sense. Teachers breathe life into the education system and develop knowledge, inspiration, morality and sensitivity in the students through their affection and dedication.

The President remembered the students he taught at the Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Center in Rairangpur, Odisha and said that he had learned a lot from his students as well. He described the love and affection he received from students as one of the biggest achievements of his life.

He expressed happiness over the large number of teachers from schools in rural areas among the teachers receiving the National Award. The President said that watching short films focusing on the contributions and achievements of award-winning teachers has further strengthened his belief that dedicated teachers are frontline nation builders.

The President mentioned a teacher from a village in Jhalawar district of Rajasthan and told how he made teaching biology to children effective by using modern mediums. He described it as an excellent example of modern teaching methodology. He said that about 12 years ago, the school dropout rate at the primary level in the country was about 4.5 percent, which has now become negligible. This achievement has been possible due to the continuous efforts of the teachers.

The President said that the country is moving towards the goal of building a developed India and achieving this goal is possible only on the strength of world-class education system. He said that our effort should be to ensure that no student in the country is deprived of the right to good education. Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministers of State Jayant Chaudhary and Sukant Majumdar and other dignitaries were present at the ceremony.