Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday pointed out that nurturing a refined and cultured education system is essential for building a capable society and said that for a nation to attain strength, it must prioritise developing its capabilities, .
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Smart Classes and Information and Communication (ICT) Labs in 64 block resource centres of 1,086 council schools in Gorakhpur division, including Deoria, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, and Maharajganj districts, the CM said education serves as a potent instrument for instilling self-discipline, fostering a profound sense of connection and nurturing unwavering dedication in each individual towards the nation’s welfare.
The occasion also marked the commencement of tablet distribution to 14,360 primary and composite school teachers, introduction of Wonder Boxes to 3,780 co-located Anganwadi centers and the provision of 1,980 assistive devices to support 1,207 disabled children.
Yogi stressed the profound impact of education on the character of individuals, society and the nation. “The foundation for a robust nation is laid by the tireless efforts of teachers,” he said.
He underlined that teachers possess the potential to rapidly elevate the nation to new heights. Referring to gurus like Guru Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, Sandipani and Chanakya, he highlighted their pivotal role in shaping extraordinary figures such as Shri Ram, Shri Krishna and Chandragupta and urged teachers to take inspiration from these gurus.
The CM said the most significant accomplishment for a teacher is when they empower their students, making them competent and instilling in them a deep sense of dedication to the nation. He emphasised the importance of self-evaluation for everyone.
He said, “Failing to assess one’s actions amounts to a betrayal not just to oneself but also to society and the nation.”
Referring to the transformation in the Basic Education Department over the past six years, Yogi said the department is continuously evolving and improving. He encouraged healthy competition among teachers through their active participation in various programs by engaging with all department-related initiatives, teachers can collectively achieve better results.
He urged teachers to evaluate their work regularly, ranging from daily and weekly assessments to fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, and annual evaluations. He suggested that in places where Operation Kayakalp hasn’t yet reached, teachers can seek support from public representatives, village panchayats or former students.
The CM emphasised the need for teachers to stay updated with evolving technology in a changing environment. “The distribution of tablets is a step in this direction, helping teachers become technologically competent and guide the upcoming generation effectively. The government is playing its role in this by establishing smart classes, ICT labs, and distributing tablets,” he said.
He stressed the importance of forward-thinking and planning two steps in advance to stay ahead. He discussed the issue of encephalitis and the importance of raising awareness about cleanliness among children and their parents.
Yogi highlighted that a robust education system should involve continuous research. “Keeping this in mind, Anganwadi centers are also being connected with pre-primary,” he said.
He said teachers can connect various types of schemes of the central and state governments with the children of the Basic Education Council. He emphasized the importance of linking scholarship programs and the Kanya Sumangala scheme.
The CM said the Kanya Sumangala Yojana, which offers an amount of Rs 15,000 from a daughter’s birth through various stages of her education, will now be increased to Rs 25,000 from the upcoming session.
He urged teachers to perform to leave a lasting legacy, rather than merely passing the time. He encouraged educators to gain a deep understanding of the social, geographical and economic aspects of their respective areas, as well as the unique attributes, crafts, and heritage of their villages.
Yogi distributed wheelchairs to the differently-abled children, interacted with them and presented them gifts. Earlier, he interacted with children dressed as iconic characters like Shri Ram, Lakshman, Sita and Hanuman gifting them chocolates.
He inspected the stalls set up by the Basic Education Department at the venue of the program. Models of Teaching Learning Materials (TLM) were displayed at these stalls. He spoke to the teachers and children present at the stalls and took information about their respective models. UNI AB SSP
