Mumbai Mayor announces hike in Ideal Teacher Award prize money to Rs 25,000 from next year

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on Saturday October 24 announced that the prize money for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporationrsquos BMC Ideal Teacher Award would be increased from Rs 11000 to Rs 25000 from next year The announcement was made at the Mayorrsquos Teacher Award ceremony where 50 teachers were recognised for their contributions to education and innovative initiatives aimed at improving studentsrsquo learning experiencesSpeaking at the event Tawde highlighted the role of teachers in shaping studentsrsquo intellectual development and instilling moral values She said teachers played a crucial role in building the countryrsquos intellectual and moral foundation and preparing future generations to contribute to societyThe Ideal Teacher Mayor Award 2025ndash26 ceremony was held at the Penguin Auditorium inside Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden and Zoo in Byculla Teachers from BMC primary and special schools secondary schools private aided schools and unaided schools were selected following interviewsTeachersrsquo role extends beyond academic performanceAddressing the gathering Tawde said rapid technological advances had changed the way children accessed information with artificial intelligence AI computers and social media making large amounts of information readily availableldquoTechnology may provide information from all the books in the world within seconds but no algorithm in the world can ever wipe away the tears of a distressed child and place a reassuring hand on their back telling them lsquoYou can do thisrsquo Machines can provide information but only teachers have the ability to impart wisdom and humanity to liferdquo she saidThe mayor said teachers preparing students for a technologically advanced India in 2047 when the country will mark 100 years of Independence needed to encourage creative thinking rather than focus solely on examinations and rote learningShe also stressed that education should not be restricted to competition for marks According to Tawde studentsrsquo mental health happiness and emotional wellbeing should receive equal attentionShe urged teachers to ensure that students graduating from BMC schools developed into knowledgeable sensitive and confident citizens who could lead fulfilling lives without excessive academic stressTawde also referred to educational initiatives introduced during her tenure as chairperson of the BMC Education CommitteeAward prize money to rise from Rs 11000 to Rs 25000The BMC currently provides an honorarium of Rs 11000 to each teacher selected for the Mayorrsquos Teacher Award The payment is made through the Electronic Clearing Service ECSDuring the ceremony Education Committee Chairperson Rajeshree Shirwadkar requested that the award amount be increased Responding to the request Tawde announced that the prize money would rise to Rs 25000 from next yearThe announcement was met with applause from teachers attending the eventOfficials highlight contribution of municipal school teachersDeputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi said teachers played an important role in the development of cities villages and the country He also highlighted the contribution of teachers and students from BMC schools to Mumbairsquos development and congratulated the award recipients and their familiesShirwadkar described teachers as mentors and guardians who played an important role in studentsrsquo lives She said that despite advances in artificial intelligence technology could not replace teachers She also spoke about the interviews conducted to select the award recipients and praised the educational initiatives presented by the candidatesImprovements Committee City Chairperson Yamini Jadhav said teachers in municipal schools worked to improve studentsrsquo education and overall development She noted that students from BMC schools had gone on to hold senior positions across various professional fieldsDeputy Municipal Commissioner Education Dr Prachi Jambhekar also acknowledged the initiatives undertaken by teachers to improve schools and support studentsrsquo overall development She encouraged other educators to learn from these effortsFifty teachers recognised for innovative initiativesA total of 50 teachers received the Mayorrsquos Teacher Award for the 2025ndash26 academic year The selection process included interviews with teachers from different categories of BMCrun and other schoolsThe awards recognised teachers for innovative teaching practices and educational initiatives intended to improve learning and support studentsrsquo developmentAmong those present at the ceremony were Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi Education Committee Chairperson Rajeshree Shirwadkar Improvements Committee City Chairperson Yamini Jadhav C and D Ward Committee Chairperson Akash Purohit and corporators Urmila Panchal Rajeshree Bhatankar and Mehzabeen Atiq Ahmed KhanPresidentrsquos Awardwinning teacher Dattatraya Ware Guruji Deputy Municipal Commissioner Education Dr Prachi Jambhekar and Education Officers Sujata Khare and Kirtivardhan Kiritkudwe also attended the event