Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with 82 winners of the National Teachers Awards at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. The awardees included 48 teachers from the Department of School Education and Literacy, 21 teachers/faculty members from Higher Educational Institutions and Polytechnics, and 13 skill trainers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
During the interaction, the Prime Minister emphasized that teachers need to look beyond academic performance and be attentive to children's behavior and everyday lives. He noted that with the reduction in traditional joint family setups, teachers now play an increasingly important role in children's development. Specifically addressing the problem of drug addiction, Modi called upon teachers to remain alert to changes in children, identify the cause, and help affected students overcome the habit.
The Prime Minister also highlighted screen time as a major concern, urging teachers to speak to parents about how much time children spend on screens and whether they use mobile phones late at night. He suggested that children could gradually reduce excessive screen use by developing interests in sports, physical games, and creative activities.
Modi stressed the importance of preserving childhood innocence and nurturing children's natural curiosity, stating that appropriately channeling this curiosity can significantly contribute to their development. He referenced the National Education Policy, emphasizing the importance of taking children outside the classroom and connecting them with real-world skills and forms of work. The Prime Minister also asked teachers to help inculcate values such as dignity of labor among children, going beyond imparting syllabus knowledge.
The award-winning teachers shared their experiences and innovations that have shaped their teaching journey, including creative approaches adopted to make classroom learning more engaging and effective.