By Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called for an education system that combines the values of India’s traditional learning practices with the demands of a rapidly changing technological world. In a letter issued on Teachers’ Day and ahead of International Literacy Day, Yogi stressed that education must prepare young people not only with academic knowledge but also with values, skills, confidence and an understanding of emerging technologies.
The chief minister said the role of education can no longer be limited to basic literacy. With artificial intelligence, deep-tech and other emerging technologies reshaping sectors ranging from healthcare and agriculture to industry and employment, he said AI literacy is becoming as important as digital literacy. He pointed to the AI City being developed in Lucknow and the growing drone and UAV ecosystem in Kanpur as examples of Uttar Pradesh’s efforts to build a technology-oriented future.
Yogi highlights teachers’ role in shaping future generations
Describing teachers as the people who carry the “light of knowledge”, Yogi said they have a central role in preparing the next generation. He noted that the state honoured 81 teachers on September 5 for their contribution to education and nation-building.
According to the chief minister, effective education should help children develop discipline, curiosity, self-confidence, values and the ability to make informed choices in life.
He also referred to the ancient Gurukul tradition, saying its emphasis on holistic development could continue to provide a foundation for the modern education system. The objective, he said, should be to develop students intellectually as well as socially and morally.
Focus on school infrastructure, learning and skills
Yogi highlighted several government initiatives aimed at improving education and expanding opportunities for students and young people.
These include Operation Kayakalp, which focuses on school infrastructure, Mission Prerna, Mukhyamantri Abhyudaya Yojana and various skill-development programmes. The government has also focused on supporting students preparing for competitive examinations while creating pathways for young people to acquire employment-oriented skills.
The chief minister said these interventions had contributed to reducing school dropouts across Uttar Pradesh, allowing more children to remain connected with mainstream education.
AI literacy becomes part of the education vision
Technology occupied a significant part of Yogi’s message. He said the pace of technological change meant that students needed exposure to areas beyond conventional digital skills.
According to him, artificial intelligence and deep technologies could create new opportunities across multiple sectors. Lucknow’s proposed AI City and the emerging drone and unmanned aerial vehicle ecosystem in Kanpur, he said, could help create an environment where young people can participate in these new areas.
The broader focus is on connecting education with skills, innovation and future employment rather than treating classroom learning and technology as separate domains.
Appeal to make literacy a community effort
Ahead of International Literacy Day on September 8, Yogi urged people to help those around them who have not yet had access to basic literacy.
He said even a small personal effort to teach someone to read and write could improve that person’s confidence while opening access to information, knowledge and new opportunities.
The chief minister called for a wider commitment in which every child attends school, every student receives quality education and young people gain access to skills and innovation. He also stressed that literacy in the modern era should extend beyond reading and writing to include digital awareness and an understanding of artificial intelligence.
Yogi’s message places education at the intersection of tradition and technology, with the government seeking to preserve values associated with India’s traditional learning systems while preparing Uttar Pradesh’s youth for an increasingly technology-driven economy.
