Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 13 July 2023
The Ministry of Education, Department of School Education & Literacy, located at Shastri Bhavan in New Delhi, has announced the commencement of applications for the prestigious National Awards to Teachers. The awards aim to recognise and honour exceptional educators for their outstanding contributions to the field of education.
Teachers and Heads of Schools employed in recognised Primary, Middle, High, and Higher Secondary Schools are eligible to apply for the awards. This includes teachers working in schools operated by State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, local bodies, aided by State Governments or Union Territory Administrations, Central Government Schools, Schools under the Ministry of Defence, Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and schools affiliated with the CBSE or CISCE.
While retired teachers are typically not eligible for the award, those who have served a portion of the current calendar year are eligible to apply. However, educational administrators, education inspectors, staff members of training institutes, teachers or headmasters engaged in private tuition, contractual teachers, and Shiksha Mitras are not eligible for consideration.
Significant changes have been introduced in the scheme for National Awards to Teachers this year. The eligibility criteria for teachers have been revised to require a minimum of 10 years of regular service. Furthermore, teachers from private schools affiliated with State Boards have been included in the eligibility criteria. The evaluation matrix for assessing the nominees has also been updated.
Teachers who wish to apply for the awards can register through the online web portal http://nationalawardstoteachers.education.gov.in. The self-nomination process commenced on June 23, 2023, and the deadline for submission is July 15, 2023.
The National Awards to Teachers hold immense significance in recognising and appreciating the invaluable efforts made by teachers in shaping the future of the nation. By honouring exceptional educators, the Ministry of Education aims to inspire and motivate the entire teaching community to strive for excellence in their profession.