Modi Urges Teachers to Shield Students from Screens and Drugs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an impassioned plea to educators on Friday, urging them to tackle two growing threats to young minds: the lure of screens and the shadow of drug addiction. Speaking to 82 National Award-winning teachers at his official residence in New Delhi, Modi framed the challenge not just as an educational duty, but a moral one.

The Changing Role of Teachers

Modi noted the quiet erosion of traditional support systems. With joint families declining, he observed that teachers now often serve as the primary adult figures in many children's lives—a responsibility that extends far beyond the curriculum. He asked educators to be attentive to subtle shifts in behavior, everyday habits, and social patterns, positioning them as first responders to personal crises.

Confronting the Screen Time Epidemic

The Prime Minister didn't mince words about devices. He called excessive screen time "a major concern" and urged teachers to speak frankly with parents about nighttime phone use and hours lost to glowing rectangles. His solution wasn't punitive but constructive: channel that energy into sports, physical games, and creative pursuits. The goal isn't just to limit screens, but to replace them with something better.

Education Beyond the Classroom

Modi pointed to the National Education Policy as a blueprint for this shift. He stressed taking learning outside, connecting lessons to real-world skills and forms of work. It's not just about knowledge, he implied—it's about building character. He asked teachers to instill values like the dignity of labour, helping shape not just students, but citizens.

"Teachers play a vital role in preserving childhood innocence. By nurturing and guiding children’s inherent curiosity, teachers can greatly contribute to their development."