Out of 338, 117 teachers are from BJP-ruled states

As the final list of awardees for the national teacher’s award has been officially declared, it has come to notice that teachers from Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states have outnumbered both Congress-ruled and regional parties dominated states. 

Out of the total 378 awards under different categories, 338 teachers have been shortlisted for this year’s award ceremony. 

Out of the final list, 117 teachers belong to BJP-ruled states, 106 teachers are from the states which are being ruled by regional parties and above 50 teachers have been selected from Congress-ruled states.

Among the BJP-ruled states, highest number of teachers selected for the annual award is from Maharashtra, followed by Rajasthan and Gujarat.

While among the non-BJP and non-Congress ruled states, the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh is at the top with 30 teachers making into the final list for the prestigious award, which carries Rs 50,000 in cash and a citation.

There are 29 teachers from Maharashtra, the home state of Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, while 13 teachers have been selected from Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Rajasthan’s 14 teachers will be conferred with the award on the occasion of Teacher’s Day, which is marked on September 5 every year.

Tamil Nadu’s 23 teachers will be felicitated with the award, while Bengal’s 22 teachers will get the award. 

Twelve teachers from Odisha have also been selected for the award, while eight from Bihar and four from Delhi.

Dubai-based GEMS Our Own English High School’s teacher Thomas Mathew and Doha (Qatar)-based Shantiniketan Indian School’s teacher Subhash Bhaskaran Nair have also been selected for the award under the category of Central Board of Secondary Education.

The scheme also covers teachers of the schools affiliated to CBSE, including teachers of independent affiliated schools situated abroad, ICSCE, Sainik School, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, CTSA and schools run by the Atomic Energy Education Society.

The scheme also gives ‘special awards’ to teachers promoting integrated inclusive education in schools and promote the education of children with disabilities in regular schools by states/UTs and other school system.