PESHAWAR: The provincial government made World Teachers` Day special for teachers of high and higher secondary schools by awarding cash prizes to them for their good performance.

Under the Teachers Incentive Programme (TIP), about 1,900 head teachers and subject teachers of some 240 top performing schools were given Rs100,000 and Rs50,000 respectively at a ceremony held at Chief Minister`s House here on Wednesday.

`It is not the money but the gesture that counts,` said Sabira Hussain from Government High School Malakand. She said that such gestures encouraged teachers to continue doing their best.

Sabira, who was content like her name, said that an appreciation certificate of `best teacher` given to her for her 28 years servicewas enough. `It is like a toffee for us,` smiled Ms Hussain, adding that like a child was motivated by parents to do something good by offering him a candy, the teachers, who were already getting paid, felt that the cash prize was a candy that made them happy.

Mehnaz, a teacher at Government Girls Higher Secondary School Panyala in Dera Ismail Khan, said that in the past teachers were never encouraged like that. The government had always been ignoring teachers in all kinds of schemes but in her entire career it was the first time that a teacher was rewarded with cash prize for showing good performance.

Imran Khan, the chief of the ruling party in the province, gave away cheques to the teachers after delivering a speech on how important it was for the PTI government to bring reforms in education and health sectors.

He said that it was prime responsibility of the government to provide education, health and justice to people. He said that teachers made nations and built their character. Recalling his mother`s advice, Mr Khan requested the teachers to teach children at schools to speak the truth and make them human beings having good character.The teachers, who had perhaps seen PTI chairman first time talk live, also kept making his videos on the mobile phones and taking his pictures.

`It is a revolutionary step, which has made teaching community very happy,` said Nasira Zainab, a teacher at Government Saheed Baqir Ali Khan Higher Secondary School, Hangu. She said that in the past teachers were not promoted easily.

Under the TIP, financial incentive to the teachers of 240 government high and higher secondary schools in all the districts would be provided. The teachers, the beneficiaries of the programme, appreciated the step but political observers say the move could also have an impact on next general elections. It is pertinent to mention that teachers of government schools perform as polling staff usually during general elections.

Provincial Minister for Education Atif Khan claimed that it was for the first time in the history of the province that teachers were given cash prizes for their good performance.

He said that last year Rs50 million were allocated for TIP but in the current year the amount was doubled to Rs110 million as the number ofschools showing good performance was increased.

The minister said that imparting training tosome 83,000 teachers by institutions like British Council would help them to get international teaching certificate.