Addressing millions of students and teachers across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Teachers' Day address to the nation said Friday that there is need to find out why the value of a teacher has lost its sheen and why students don't want to be teachers when they grow up.
In a first such address to the nation, the prime minister said there is a great demand for good teachers in the world, and India being a young country should be able to produce good quality teachers for the world.
"For me it is a privilege that I am able to speak to those who are the future of the country. Today is Teachers' Day, but slowly the value of the day is lessening... There must probably be some schools where it is not observed...The day is now just focused on teachers getting awards and being felicitated, it remains that. It is necessary to highlight the value of teachers in society."
"There is need to give more value to this important tradition, and it needs more discussion why students don't want to be teachers. The answer to this has to be sought by all...There is a great demand for good teachers in the world, they are not available. India is a young country, why can't we give the promise that India will provide good teachers to the world. And students should say that yes I will be a teacher."