India, Aug. 14 -- In a major push to strengthen Delhi's government school system and tackle long-standing teacher shortages, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday handed over appointment letters to 1,368 newly recruited teachers, describing the occasion as a step towards securing the future of lakhs of students across the Capital. At a state-level programme held at Bharat Mandapam, appointment letters were distributed to 1,015 Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs), 236 Post Graduate Teachers (PGTs) and 117 music teachers. Education Minister Ashish Sood, senior officials of the Directorate of Education and other dignitaries were also present. Also Read - 12-year-old girl on way to I-Day function killed as DTC runs over scooter in east Delhi Addressing the newly appointed teachers, Gupta said the appointments carried a larger responsibility than simply joining government service. "This is not just an appointment letter, but a responsibility to shape the future of lakhs of children in Delhi," she said. Calling Delhi "a city of dreams" for people from across the country, the Chief Minister said every child studying in a government school deserves quality education, healthcare and opportunities for a better future. Highlighting the need for the recruitment drive, Gupta recalled visiting government schools where students told her there were no teachers for subjects such as science and music. In some schools, she said, a handful of teachers had to manage several classes, exposing the seriousness of staff shortages. She added that the government subsequently worked with the Also Read - DDA's five-star plan for Dwarka Education Department to address the issue. The Chief Minister said the government's focus extended beyond creating school infrastructure to ensuring every classroom had qualified teachers, better teaching standards, effective use of technology and greater opportunities in sports and the arts. She urged the newly recruited teachers to become mentors and role models in addition to being subject experts. Education Minister Ashish Sood said the latest appointments would significantly strengthen Delhi's education system. "Every child will get access to quality education; campaign to address teacher shortages will continue," he said. Emphasising the government's commitment to filling vacancies, Sood added, "Our goal is clear: wherever a teacher is needed, a teacher should be available; wherever a subject expert is required, there should be a specialist teacher; and every child in Delhi should have an equal opportunity to receive quality education."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.