New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on September 4 hosted a reception for 269 teachers who have been honoured with National Award for meritorious services for the year 2002.

Vajpayee also posed for photographs with the teachers who would be presented the awards on September 5 by President A P J Abdul Kalam on the occasion of Teachers' Day.

The award-winning teachers comprise 155 from the primary level and 114 from the secondary level. The award comprises a silver medal, a certificate and a cheque of Rs 25,000.

Earlier, lauding the teachers, HRD (Human Resources Development) Minister Murli Manohar Joshi said the new syllabus introduced in schools had given equal status to all religions.

Observing that new teaching methods have to be adopted with changing times, Joshi said innovative techniques should also be found while teaching Arabic and Persian languages.

PTI