Srinagar, Sep: 5: Principal of Government Girls Higher Secondary School Kothi Bagh, Srinagar, Samina Wani, was among 20 teachers and education officials from Jammu and Kashmir honoured by the School Education Department on Teachers’ Day on Saturday.

Reflecting on the recognition, Wani said teaching goes beyond imparting academic knowledge and involves shaping students into responsible and compassionate human beings.
Expressing happiness over the award, she described it as a proud moment and said the recognition would motivate her to continue working with greater dedication.
“I did not come to the education sector by choice but by chance. Today, I am proud of my work because teaching is such a noble profession that prepares the builders of the nation,” she said.
Wani has completed 32 years in the teaching profession and said the achievements of her former students remain one of the greatest sources of satisfaction for her.
“I have taught countless children so far, and many of them are currently holding important positions. When I meet my former students or speak to them over the phone, I see my own success in their success,” she said.
She stressed that teachers play a vital role in shaping an individual’s journey from childhood to a successful and responsible life.
“Those people are lucky who get good teachers in their lives. From a normal child to a successful person, throughout this journey, a teacher has an important role,” Wani said.
As a teacher and principal, she said, her focus has remained not only on academic excellence but also on developing values, character and a sense of responsibility among students.
“I have always tried to improve myself. I have not only focused on giving good education to children but also on making our builders of tomorrow good human beings,” she said.
Wani urged students to pursue their ambitions without allowing themselves to fall behind in any field, while stressing that success must be accompanied by humanity and a commitment to society and the nation.
She described the Teachers’ Day recognition as a fresh source of encouragement.
“A teacher is a lamp that maintains the existence of light in dark paths. A teacher is a flower that conveys the message of peace, love and friendship in society with its fragrance,” she said.
Highlighting the wider role of educators, Wani said teachers serve as guides who help students distinguish between right and wrong and remain focused on their goals.
She also emphasised the complementary roles of parents and teachers in a child’s development, saying parents provide the foundation of manners and values while teachers help students develop into responsible and capable individuals.
“A teacher is a guide who takes a person out of the wrong paths of life and guides him or her towards their destination,” she said.