New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with schoolchildren on September 4 on the eve of Teachers’ Day, his second such engagement with students after taking charge. The event will be organised much on the lines of the one held last year, highly placed sources in the HRD Ministry said, without elaborating further. However, unlike last year, the interaction would be held on the eve of Teachers' Day, observed on September 5, the birth anniversary of late philosopher-statesman S Radhakrishnan.
Addressing students and replying to their questions via video-conferencing during the programme last year, Modi had laid emphasis on girls' education, cleanliness and the need to protect environment while describing himself as a "task master".
The interaction had, however, generated controversy as the students were asked to report to class on a holiday and stay back after class hours as the interaction was scheduled after 3.30 pm.
Close to 600 students were drawn from government schools in the city along with another 100 from Kendriya Vidyalayas to listen to him at Manekshaw Auditorium here. Lakhs of students from across the country were present in their respective schools to listen to the PM on TV.
Meanwhile, this year the government has decided to double the cash reward for national award-winning teachers to Rs 50,000 from the existing Rs 25,000. The enhancement of the prize amount would come into effect from the 2014 award year.
Every year, the national award to teachers are handed out by the President on Teachers' Day in recognition of their meritorious work in primary, middle and secondary schools. The total number of awards is 378, of which 20 are reserved for Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic teachers.
