INDORE: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday called upon young education officers and teachers to use technology, innovation and fresh ideas to bring about meaningful improvements in the state’s education system, setting a target of achieving examination results of more than 90 per cent in every district.
Addressing an Education Dialogue organised on Teachers’ Day at Sandipani Government Ahilya Ashram Girls Higher Secondary School No. 1 in Indore, Yadav said young officials entrusted with field-level responsibilities could play a crucial role in shaping the country’s future.
More than 200 district education officers, district project coordinators, block education officers and teachers from across Madhya Pradesh participated in the programme, whose theme was “Today’s Youth, Builders of Tomorrow — Education Dialogue, New Ideas for Better Education”.
Interacting directly with young education officials, the chief minister sought details about their experiences, challenges, priorities and initiatives undertaken in their respective districts. He urged them to understand local circumstances, students’ requirements and problems faced by schools before framing solutions.
“Local problems should have local solutions,” Yadav said, adding that successful experiments should be shared with other districts so they could be replicated where suitable.
He said young officials had the advantage of technological knowledge, energy and the ability to look at challenges from new perspectives. These strengths, he said, should be channelled towards improving students’ learning outcomes and strengthening educational administration.
Yadav also stressed the growing importance of technology in education, saying artificial intelligence, digital learning and other modern tools were creating new opportunities for students. Teachers and education officials, he said, should continuously upgrade their skills and use technology to improve learning while simultaneously developing students’ logical thinking, questioning ability and problem-solving skills.
The chief minister directed education officials to ensure that no child was left behind. Schools should track individual academic progress, identify students requiring additional support and formulate specific strategies to help them improve.
He asked teachers to identify the individual interests, abilities and aptitude of students and guide them accordingly. Teachers, he said, should also help students understand academic and career options, particularly after Class 10, when many students struggle to decide their future course.
Yadav urged teachers to maintain a close relationship with students and understand their family and social circumstances. Children at risk of dropping out should be brought back into education, while those unable to attend regular schools should be informed about alternatives such as open schooling.
He also encouraged teachers to inform families about government welfare schemes that could support children’s education and development.
On infrastructure, Yadav said the state government was working to strengthen school facilities and would provide permanent buildings to schools that currently lacked proper structures. Students were also being provided facilities including buses, bicycles, uniforms and mid-day meals, he said.
He called for greater community participation in school development, saying education was a shared responsibility of the government, teachers, parents and society.
Highlighting the state’s focus on young leadership, Yadav said around 40 new district education officers, 23 district project coordinators and nearly 60 block education officers had recently been posted. Their average age was around 28 years, he said, adding that they were expected to provide result-oriented leadership rather than merely implement instructions.
During the programme, officials shared several initiatives. Ashoknagar’s district education officer spoke about the ‘Riyaaz’ app, which records student attendance online and automatically alerts parents of absentees. Teachers subsequently contact families directly. The initiative, according to the official, had helped address school dropout and could potentially be expanded to other districts.
Indore’s district education officer highlighted the establishment of AI laboratories in government schools and initiatives being undertaken in collaboration with IIT Madras to promote information technology among students. Yadav appreciated the initiatives and asked officials to share successful models across the state.
On Teachers’ Day, Yadav paid tribute to former President and eminent educationist Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and extended greetings to teachers across the state.
He urged teachers to treat students with affection and consider teaching more than a profession, describing it as an opportunity to contribute to nation and society building. He also advised teachers to pay attention to their health and incorporate yoga and pranayama into their daily routines.
Yadav encouraged newly appointed officers and teachers to continue learning and innovating, saying their work would influence several generations. He urged them to remain connected to their roots while embracing modern technology and new approaches.
Water Resources Minister Tulsiram Silawat, MP Shankar Lalwani, Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava, legislators and senior administrative and education officials were among those present.