Making a strong pitch for producing good teachers in large numbers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched a mission in this regard amid his assertion that the whole world is looking at India with great expectations "but we are not ready".
He advocated introduction of a five-year training course after schooling for those aspiring to pursue a career in teaching and said the country should aim to export top-class teachers across the world.
On a visit to his constituency, Modi said an environment needs to be created for producing teachers who are rooted in the country's culture and tradition and can be exported in lakhs as there is a large demand globally.
"The 21st century is the century of knowledge and India has the responsibility to make its contribution. It is the demand of time," he said while addressing a function at Banaras Hindu University here as part of 'Good Governance Day' celebrations.
"My experience of six months as Prime Minister says that the whole world is looking at India with expectations. But we are not ready. The world is ready but we are not ready," he said.
Launching a mission in the name of BHU founder and Bharat Ratna awardee Madan Mohan Malaviya for teachers' training, Modi said an environment needs to be created where children aspire to become teachers after 10th or 12th and can be trained in this area.
"There is a dearth of good teachers. Even if you ask rich people who have crores of rupees, what they want, they will say they need good teachers. Even a driver says he needs good teachers," he said.
Observing that "Good education does not fall in the realm of infrastructure," he said, "Can't there be a scenario where children decide early to become teachers? We should create an environment where children can decide to become teachers after 10th or 12th.
For creating that environment, he said there can be teachers training course after 10th or 12th where an aspirant knows what he is going to become. The training can include child psychology, tradition, counseling of children. It can all happen through training.
