From oratory to screen time, PM & teachers exchange notes

The interaction with National Teachers Award winners was held at PM Modi's Lok Kalyan Marg residence NEW DELHI: "You need confidence and plenty of practice." That was the public-speaking advice PM Narendra Modi received from a national award-winning teacher during an interaction that moved from a joke about his "aura" to screen addiction, drug abuse and the need to preserve childhood.Modi had asked the teacher what she would advise him if he were her student and wanted to become a good orator. After her tip, she said, "Sorry, sir. Seeing your aura, my aura went down a little."The interaction with National Teachers Award winners was held at Modi's Lok Kalyan Marg residence Friday, the eve of Teachers' Day.One teacher said she was teaching children how to conduct interviews like journalists. Students had begun questioning their parents at home: "Why was this food cooked? Why was it cooked this way? Who made the decision? How much was spent?" She added, "All the children in my school now want to become reporters."Modi asked teachers not to judge children only by their academic performance. A child might struggle with studies but possess another ability, he said. Modi said children were naturally curious and teachers should nurture and guide that curiosity.Calling excessive screen time a form of addiction, the PM said children could be drawn away from phones by making them develop an interest in sports - "not video games, but playing on the field" - and creative activities. Teachers should speak to parents about how much time their kids spent on screens.On drug abuse, Modi said the problem was not confined to large cities and universities. Teachers must spread awareness, watch out for behavioural changes, and help those affected. When a teacher spoke about educating women on breast cancer, Modi referred to a similar awareness campaign in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency. He said more women were now coming forward for check-ups and that a Guinness World Record had been set for the highest number of screenings in a day.Referring to National Education Policy, the PM urged teachers to take learning beyond classrooms. Children should be connected with real-world skills and taught values like the dignity of labour."The biggest contribution teachers can make is to keep childhood alive in students," the PM added. Manash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.