Aadhaar mandatory for nominees of ‘Best Teacher’ award

BENGALURU: This year on, it is compulsory for nominees of ‘Best Teacher’ award to furnish their Aadhaar number along with applications for both state and national levels.

A notification was issued by the state Department of Public Instructions inviting nominations for the award at state and national levels, mentioning that Aadhaar numbers should be submitted along with voter ID or other address proof.

These nominations are for the best teacher award that will be conferred on Teacher’s Day, September 5. The block resource persons have to submit the nominations to block education officers by July 20.
Department officials said in case eligible teachers do not have an Aadhaar number, they can enrol now and submit details with applications. “As the event is in September, they can enrol for the card and submit the Aadhaar number later,” a senior official of the department said.

However, it won’t be easy to bag the award this time, with the department strictly condemning attempts by teacher to influence the selection committee by submitting recommendation letters from political or spiritual leaders. Head teachers have been asked to collect opinions from four students (two boys and two girls) about the teacher before sending the teacher’s name to block resource persons. Those who wish to get nominated must have 210 days of attendance in the last academic year.