Panaji, Sep 13 (IANS): Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday expressed shock that his office came 'under pressure', while finalising names for the annual Teacher's Day awards and said that there were efforts made to influence him to nominate a particular teacher for the state award.

Sawant said that the state government was currently spending six to seven per cent of the budgetary allocation on the education sector and added that he, as Education Minister, was willing to spend more if required to boost education standards in the state.

"A Teacher's Day award is not something one can ask for. But there was so much pressure on me. I cannot accept that one has to leverage 'pressure' to get such an award," Sawant said during a Teacher's Day function in Panaji on Friday.

Sawant added that as late as Thursday evening, he was approached by a person to use his influence as CM to ensure that a particular candidate is granted a Teacher's Day award, nearly half a dozen of which are presented to exemplary teachers every year.

"I said that it is up to the selection committee. I said I will not intervene," Sawant said.