Emphasising the need for enhancing the knowledge base of children by not restricting them only to classrooms, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday announced that students of Delhi Government schools will soon be sent on Bharat Darshan trips at least once in their 12-year curriculum.
The Chief Minister said that schools in Delhi are the best in the country and as a “humble gift” to teachers, the Government has extended their retirement age from 62 to 65. “We have recently established a children’s academy. Many people had apprehensions about the academy. Our goal is not to keep our children only inside the classroom but also give them knowledge about the outside world,” she said, on the sidelines of a function on Teachers’ Day.
“The first programme is taking children at least once on a Bharat Darshan trip. Children should learn about the various aspects of our country. This will enhance children’s knowledge and reach,” said the Chief Minister. Praising the teachers of various schools, she said teachers and students in Delhi are the best in the country.
“Good teachers train better students. And our humble gift to teachers is that we have decided to extend their retirement age from 62 to 65. The decision was taken recently in the Cabinet. This might have taken some time but it was finally done,” she said.
Emphasising the need for bringing about constant change to cope up with the changing scenario of education, the Chief Minister said, “Even though the number of students is ever-increasing, the teachers in Delhi have ensured that students here are the best educated. By extending their retirement age, we have given teachers their right.”
The Chief Minister feted 74 teachers with cash rewards of Rs 25,000 on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. While 47 teachers belonged to Government, Government-aided and private schools, 12 were from schools belonging to Delhi Municipal Corporation and others like physical and sports and yoga teachers.