As government agents, teachers have a heavy responsibility to improve the people's future and develop the nation through education, said Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan.

He said the government held the teaching profession in high regard as the vocation was capable of changing the fate of the community and country.

"Teaching is a noble profession as its influence can stretch over a generation," he said when opening the 2014 Teachers' Day Festival here today.

On the three-day festival which began today at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kamalanathan said the festival was an event to honour teachers in the Klang Valley.

Since its inception six years ago, the festival organised by the education ministry and Utusan Group was held for the first time in Kuala Lumpur, after Terengganu, Pahang, Sarawak and Negeri Sembilan.

Kamalanathan said the festival was aimed at generating interest in producing excellent human capital via education, as well as interaction with educators.

Meanwhile, he said the festival theme, 'Teachers: Catalyst of Creativity, Generator of Innovation', was fitting for the role of educators in transforming education.

"The country is very dependent on the integrity of teachers to share their knowledge with the people, and this is in line with the government's efforts to highlight the national education system at international platforms," he added.

In conjunction with Teachers' Day this year, the deputy minister called on students to reciprocate the efforts of teachers in imparting their know-how to them.

Teachers' Day is celebrated on May 16 each year to commemorate the date of the Razak Report in 1956, which was later adopted as the National Education Policy.