The Prime Minister has said that there is a global need for good teachers and India has the potential to export to fulfill that need .

Addressing the children on the occasion of Teachers' day at a function in New Delhi today, Mr Narendra Modi said teachers are role models for students and society needs to realise their importance.

It was the Prime Minister's first interaction of its kind with students at a national level on the occasion of Teachers day. In his 100-minute conversation, Mr Modi answered a volley of questions from students sitting in the auditorium as well as from across the country through video conferencing.

He said there should be a debate on why good students are not opting for teaching as a profession. Saying digital India is his dream, the Prime Minister said modern technology should reach all people in the country in all languages.

Mr Modi said skill development is important for employment and his government has created a separate ministry for the purpose. The Prime Minister not only gave advice to students on various issues, including cleanliness, reading habits, environment protection but also shared his childhood memories with them.

He was looking very relaxed and cheerful and asked students not to let their childhood die early. Mr Modi mingled with students in the auditorium after his address.

Mr. Modi stressed the need for promotion of girls' education. He stressed the need for separate toilets for girls in schools across the country and said lack of toilets in schools is main reason for their dropout.

He said that there is a need to make cleanliness a national movement.
Over one thousand students from different schools in the national capital attended the function.

The Prime Minister's address was beamed live to over 18 lakh government and private schools in the country through Doordarshan, AIR and education channels.

Our correspondent reports, many students spoke about the life and achievements of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.