PESHAWAR, Oct 5: Special functions were organised throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday to mark Salam Teachers’ Day with participants linking the country’s progress to provision of better educational facilities and the holding of teachers in high esteem.

In the provincial capital, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain went to Peshawar University to attend a Salam Teachers’ Day.

He said teaching was a sacred profession, which could help the country steer out of the current socioeconomic and political crises and progress.

The minister said the role of teacher was very important for development and progress as it had a direct impact on society.

“Qualities of teachers atomically transfer to society. Without getting education, we won’t be able to make a respectable place for ourselves in the comity of nations,” he said.

Peshawar University vice chancellor Dr Qibla Ayaz, Unesco representative Irshad Tirmizi, Puta president Jamil Chitrali, FAPWASA president Dr Hamayun and Schools Association president Haji Nisar also addressed the function, which was organised by Puta and Unesco.

In Lakki Marwat, the district elementary and secondary education department with the support of National Commission for Human Development organised a function to distribute appreciation certificates to best teachers of primary, middle, high and higher secondary schools in the district.

At the function in Government Primary School No 2, Meenakhel, Lakki Marwat city, speakers said holding teachers in high esteem in society was inevitable for development and prosperity.

They said without the teachers’ help, the country couldn’t progress.

They underlined the need for training, capacity building and grant of rights to teachers without delay. They said teachers should become role models for their students and other individuals of the society as only competent and motivated teachers could impart quality education.

According to them, the government has provided better pay and incentives to teachers and therefore, they should perform their professional obligations honestly.

They said devoted and honest teachers could help increase the status of their profession in society.

They urged people to admire the role played by teachers for building their future.

Later, participants staged a walk from Government Primary School No 2, Meenakhel to Eidgah for public awareness of immunisation.

Meanwhile, teachers and students also staged a walk in Serai Gambila to educate people on importance of anti-polio vaccination.

Assistant district education officer Qadeer Shah led the walk.

He said teachers and students could plan an effective role in eradication of polio. He said polio could cause lifelong paralysis to children under five, so parents should be convinced to vaccinate their children.

He urged teachers to fully cooperate with anti-polio teams to check immunisation refusal cases and achieve immunisation targets.

In Timergara, too, Salam Teachers’ Day was marked.

A function was jointly organised by Malakand Development Programme and education department at Timergara Government School.

District coordination officer Mahmood Aslam Wazir, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said teachers deserved credit for the development of nations.

He said teachers had a respectable status in all societies.

The DCO said the state and society had given due respect to teachers but unfortunately, the latter had not been playing their due role in formation of a peaceful and prosperous society.

He urged teachers to given extraordinary attention to character building of their students. EDO Bashir Khan said Japan was a small country but its teachers helped it become one of the world’s great powers.

Later, best teacher awards were distributed amon 70 male and 30 female teachers of Lower Dir.

In Karak, too, Salam Teacher Day was observed and best teachers’ awards were given to 43 male and female teachers.

A function was held at the office of executive district officer (education) with the support of National Commission for Human Development (NCHD).

Deputy district officer Shah Nawaz Khan Khattak, who was in attendance, urged teachers to build the capacity of their students.

Deputy district officer Hukam Khan called for end to politics in educational institutions and said teachers should not be part of such activities.

DDO Farhat Shaheen highlighted the role of the teachers in the country’s development.

ADO Hamayun Khattak said unless teachers performed duty diligently, quality of education couldn’t improve.

In Chitral, a Salam Teachers Day function was organised at Government High School, where participants vowed to make the district a model in the province for quality education.

National Commission for Human Development organised the function, where EDO (education) Siraj Mohammad was noted among those in attendance.

The EDO said provision of quality education to children was the only way to drive Chitral out of backwardness and poverty.

He said youths had great talents, which needed to be channelised for national development.

Mr Siraj said teachers would get a high stature in the society if they discharged their duties honestly.

On the occasion, best teachers’ awards were given to teachers of many government and private schools.