“A small change by the teachers can bring about monumental changes in the lives of young students,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sangh Adhiveshan, which is the 29th Biennial Conference of the All India Primary Teachers’ Federation, on May 12 in Gujarat.
The PM emphasised the huge contributions of teachers at a time when India is moving forward with the resolve of Viksit Bharat in the Amrit Kaal. During his address, the PM talked about the high regard that world leaders hold for Indian teachers. The Prime Minister recalled how the Kings of Bhutan and Saudi Arabia and the WHO Director General talked highly of their Indian teachers.
PM Modi highlighted the role played by teachers in building a nation and urged the teachers to be guides and mentors of students along with being educators. PM also underlined the shortcomings of technology in order to have a deep understanding of any subject and when there is an overload of information. This is when the role of teachers becomes more important.
Guides and mentors for the students
Despite the growing influence of technology in education, teachers remain essential and irreplaceable. Teachers create a nurturing and supportive learning environment. They understand that education is not solely about academic content but also about the emotional well-being of students.
While technology can enhance the learning experience, it cannot replace the essential human elements that teachers bring to education. Teachers bring a human touch that is crucial for fostering holistic development in a student. The government is also implementing various teacher training and professional development programmes in order to enhance their skills.
During the address, the PM also stressed the need to create an environment where people come forward to become teachers. He emphasised the need to make teaching attractive as a profession.
National Education Policy (NEP)
Speaking about the pathbreaking National Education Policy, PM Modi said, “Today India is creating new systems as per the needs of the 21st century, and a new National Education Policy has been formulated keeping that in mind.”
The PM highlighted that the National Education Policy (NEP) is replacing the old irrelevant education system that restricted students to only bookish knowledge. This new policy emphasises practical knowledge over rote learning, he added.
While speaking about the provision for education in the mother tongue in the NEP, the PM said, “Government is giving emphasis to education in regional languages, which will also improve the lives of teachers.” NEP 2020 is a comprehensive and ambitious policy that aims to transform the education system in India.
