Nation needs more dedicated teachers: President

The nation needs more competent and dedicated teachers, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Teachers' Day Friday, adding that students need to be taught values like tolerance, integrity and secularism.

"India today needs many more competent and willing teachers to dedicate themselves to improving the standard and quality of education. Teachers have a vital role to play in upgrading the quality of education," the president said after giving away the National Awards for teachers here.

"The world today faces challenges of violence, terrorism, environmental degradation... values of truth, tolerance, integrity, secularism and inclusiveness need to be imparted to our children to make the world a safer and better place," the president said.

He also said that teachers should use information and communication technology and keep pace with rapidly changing technologies.