2004 Jan Amos Comenius Award conferred on Prof. J. S. Rajput

For his exceptional achievements in the fields of educational research and innovations, Prof. J. S. Rajput, was today awarded the Jan Amos Comenius Medal and Certificate, jointly by H.E. Mr. Jan Kreuter, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Czech Republic and Dr. Warren L. Mellor, Director a.i. and UNESCO Representative to India, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka, at a ceremony held at UNESCO New Delhi Office.

Also present at the ceremony were Mr. Amit Khare and Ms. Manisha Verma, from the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO (Ministry of Human Resource Development), and some former colleagues and friends of the laureate Prof. Rajput.

Dr Mellor in his welcome remarks briefly gave the background of the Award and informed that the event was taking place under the auspices of UNESCO’s International Bureau of Education in Geneva, and of the UNESCO Director General.

The Jan Amos Comenius Medal was created jointly by the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic and the Director-General of UNESCO, in 1992, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the birth of Jan Amos Comenius. One of UNESCO’s most prestigious awards, it is intended to reward outstanding achievements carried out in the fields of educational research and innovation. It also rewards outstanding examples of personal devotion to education and the ideals of UNESCO demonstrated throughout an important part of one's life. As well as commemorating the spiritual heritage of Jan Amos Comenius, its principal aim is to promote and encourage new initiatives making a significant contribution to the development and renewal of education. Since its creation, some sixty educators became laureates of the Medal or were granted an honourable mention.

The medal is granted to individual educators (researchers, teachers, directors of educational projects); or to groups of educators (research teams, curriculum development units, etc.) Candidates are identified through the National Commissions for UNESCO, the Organization’s Regional Offices and other specialized educational institutes, as well as appropriate non-governmental organizations

Professor Rajput is an education administrator of vast and rich experience whose contribution to curriculum development is widely recognized in the country. As Director of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Prof. Rajput was engaged in various reform projects and activities intended to improve the standards of the Indian education system.

Prior to his appointment as Director of NCERT in 1999, Professor Rajput played a key role in educational administration and planning as Head of the Bureau of Elementary Education at the Ministry of Human Resource Development (1989-94), which included major public schemes such as Operation Blackboard, Non-formal Education and the introduction of Minimum Levels of Learning, and as Chairman of the National Council for Teacher Education (1994-1999). Prof. Rajput is the author of 30 research papers in Physics and published more than 150 articles in a range of areas including teachers’ education, science and technology education, environment education and curriculum development. He has been extensively involved in fostering regional exchange, particularly in science and teacher education, within both international and Asian contexts.

• Source:UNESCO New Delhi
• 19-08-2009