Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged educators to be on the lookout for indications of drug addiction in pupils and to assist them in cutting back on excessive screen time by promoting physical activity, sports, and artistic endeavors.
Ahead of Teachers Day, the Prime Minister spoke with national award-winning educators on Friday and urged them to protect childhood and foster children's innate curiosity.
According to PM Modi, educators should focus on children's behavior and everyday life rather than only grades. He noted that since there are fewer joint family arrangements, their position has grown in significance and asked them to submit innovative ideas for improving classroom instruction.
On Saturday, a video of the exchange at the prime minister's home on Lok Kalyan Marg was made public.
Speaking on drug misuse, PM Modi stated that it can be challenging to determine whether somebody is impacted by the issue in some large cities and academic institutions because nobody knows who gives what to whom. He stated, "In these situations, teachers should take the initiative for awareness and also closely observe if any change (in behavior) is witnessed in any child."
He believed that educators should go beyond textbooks and curricula to engage pupils in their daily lives. "You shouldn't let a student's youth pass away. Teachers may make the greatest impact by preserving childhood in their pupils' lives, he said.
Children share the same basic nature and interest, according to PM Modi, and instructors may significantly contribute to their growth if they foster and harness this inquiry.
The Prime Minister claimed that students' screen usage had grown to be a significant worry. He asked educators to talk to parents about how much time their kids spend on screens and whether or not they use cell phones late at nite. Developing an interest in sports, physical games, and artistic pursuits, he said, can naturally minimize screen usage.
He emphasized the value of exposing kids to real-world skills and employment opportunities outside of the classroom, citing the National Education Policy.
Additionally, PM Modi said that he had started a breast cancer awareness campaign in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, and commended a teacher who spoke about raising awareness of breast cancer among local women. "I am pleased to inform you that an increasing number of women are seeking screening for breast cancer, even setting a Guinness World Record in the process," he stated.
82 educators from three departments have been chosen for this year's National Teachers Awards: 13 skill trainers from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 21 teachers or faculty members from higher education institutions and polytechnics, and 48 teachers from the Department of School Education and Literacy.
