New Delhi: Strongly condemning incidents of ragging in educational institutions, President Pratibha Patil on Sunday exhorted teachers to prevent the menace from
taking place in any establishment in the country.
"It must be strongly condemned and should not take place in any institutions of the country. You have a role in preventing it," Patil said, presentation of `National Awards`
to teachers on the occasion of Teacher`s Day here.
"Today one sees the disturbing trend of ragging in our institutes of higher education. I have often said this practice is not healthy, as it is a manifestation of intolerance on the part of senior students towards their juniors," she said at the function, where about 374 teachers were felicitated.
Recalling her visit to Russia on September 5 last year, the President said she was "impressed" to visit a Russian school in St Petersburg which was established on the
10th anniversary of India`s independence.
"I was greatly impressed with the interest among the students and the teachers of this school in a foreign country about our culture. I believe that an appreciation of diversity
that exists in our world invariably broadens horizons and promotes understanding between people," she said.
Observing that the Right to Education Act has placed greater responsibility on all stakeholders, Patil said the challenge before teachers is to ensure that children actively
participate in school activities.
"Teachers particularly in rural and distant areas should hold classes regularly and ask students to attend school everyday. They should remain in contact with parents
and pay personal attention to the difficulties that their students may face," she said.
HRD Minister Kapil Sibal asked the state governments to prepare enforcible rules to ensure a rational and transparent system of postings and transfers in light of the
implementation of the RTE Act.
"It should also be kept in mind that women teachers have demanding domestic responsibilities and their special circumstances should be given due consideration," he said.
Sibal said RTE also lays emphasis on full involvement of teachers in school management committee. He said the country can ill afford to tolerate aberrations like willful
absence from duty or appointment of substitute teachers.
"There should be no compromise with the errant behaviour of teachers," he said.
PTI
