After 17 years, HE dept celebrates Teachers’ Day

The last time the state higher education department celebrated Teachers’ Day was in 2001, when the incumbent Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara held the ministry as independent charge in the S M Krishna government.

Now, 17 years later, the department — now helmed by G T Deve Gowda — celebrated the day with similar
fervour.

“Officials were clueless when the minister asked them about Teachers’ Day. Some of them offered lame responses. That’s when we found out that the department last celebrated the day 17 years ago,” a senior department official said.

A furious Gowda ordered celebration of Teachers’ Day and the everything was planned in just five days, the official added.

The function, on behalf of the ministry was held in the Jnana Jyothi auditorium on Wednesday, where Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy took part in the inaugurals.

Sources close to the ministry said the negligence of the officials was the reason why the department could not celebrate the day.

Gowda assured that the ministry would celebrate the day moving forward.

“I don’t want to comment on what happened. I made the decision to celebrate it in five days and made it a success,” the minister said.

He said colleges and universities have been celebrating the event at their campuses. “But as a department, it’s our duty to identify and felicitate teachers who made exceptional contribution to the state’s higher education. We’ll ensure this continues from now on,” he added.