Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasised the importance of schoolchildren excelling not only in academics but also in traditional handicrafts and sports.
During the Smriti Diwas programme held on Wednesday in the memory of the late Devendra Nath Srivastava, founder-manager of Maheshwari Prasad Intermediate College in Alamchand village of Kaushambi, the chief minister said that in line with the National Education Policy, there was a need to focus on the skill development of children.
“Our schools must transform into research centres to explore innovations that can contribute to the One District One Product initiative,” he said.
The chief minister praised the establishment of the intermediate college in Alamchand village by eminent advocate Devendra Nath Srivastava six decades ago to preserve the heritage of his ancestors.
The chief minister underscored that our ancient texts provided profound inspiration, emphasising that knowledge was inseparable from faith. Expressing joy, he pointed out that out of the 2,526 students enrolled in the school, 1,353 were girls.
The chief minister also highlighted the teachings of the gurus, urging students to uphold truthfulness and follow the path of dharma. He expressed happiness over the fact that well-known personalities of the country, like the vice-chancellor of Allahabad University and a judge of the Supreme Court were associated with this college. He lauded their commitment to taking time from their busy schedules to be present among the students as mentors and parental figures.
Addressing the students, he conveyed that greatness was not achieved suddenly but required hard work, dedication, and devotion.
The chief minister also assured the school management that keeping their needs in mind, various works would be carried out under Project Alankar. He stated that the government provided 75 per cent to 90 per cent assistance for the construction of any school that was financed by the government or was a government school under Project Alankar.
Appreciating the contributions of private institutions in the education sector, the chief minister encouraged students to visit the library alongside studying their regular curriculum, emphasising the importance of gaining knowledge from new books.
Yogi further said that when society took the lead and the government followed, the nation became a global leader, continually setting new standards. He noted India’s achievements in various fields over the last nine years, particularly in sports, where new paradigms had been established.
He emphasised the need to provide a suitable platform for sports and cultural activities, noting that when talents were given the right opportunities, achieving significant goals becomes much smoother. He also stated that the government was working with complete sensitivity towards education.
Earlier, students welcomed the chief minister by singing patriotic songs. Yogi also released a coffee table book related to the history of Allahabad University.
