Urges students to stay focused on careers instead of wasting time on social media

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, SEPTEMBER 5, 2026

 “Education is not just about imparting knowledge; it is a noble process of building human beings,” Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Teachers’ Day, urging students to stay focused on their studies and careers instead of wasting excessive time on social media or falling prey to misinformation.

Addressing students during a Teachers’ Day celebration at Secondary Board High School in Cuttack, the Chief Minister advised them to remain single-minded in their pursuit of education and acquire the skills necessary to contribute to their own development as well as the progress of the nation.

 “Your first responsibility as students is to study well, acquire skills and contribute to your own development and the development of the country. This is the fundamental objective of our education system,” Majhi said. He cautioned students against activities and distractions that could hamper their career-building efforts.

Majhi specifically advised students not to spend excessive time on social media and urged them not to be influenced by misinformation or propaganda. He encouraged them to devote themselves wholeheartedly to their studies and remain focused on their long-term goals.

Highlighting the importance of the teacher-student relationship, the Chief Minister said that the bond between teachers and students needs to become more friendly and supportive in the present era. He also advised students to seek the blessings and guidance of their parents and elders while striving to reach the pinnacle of success.

Paying tribute to former President and eminent philosopher Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary, Majhi underlined the timeless significance of the Guru-Shishya tradition in Indian culture.

He said teachers have played a decisive role in shaping the lives of great personalities, from Lord Rama and Lord Krishna to Chandragupta Maurya and Swami Vivekananda. Even in modern times, he noted, former President and “Missile Man” Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam took immense pride in identifying himself first and foremost as a teacher, despite having held the country’s highest constitutional office.

The Chief Minister said teachers have always carried the great responsibility of shaping individuals and building responsible citizens.

Highlighting the State Government’s commitment to transforming Odisha’s education sector, Majhi spoke about the ‘KG to PG’ free education initiative. He said Odisha has become the first state in India to make education universally free from Shishu Vatika/pre-school level through postgraduate studies.

He also highlighted several other initiatives aimed at strengthening the State’s education infrastructure and expanding access to quality education.

According to the Chief Minister, 2,200 world-class ‘Godabarish Mishra Model Primary Schools’ are being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 12,000 crore, while 45,000 Shishu Vatika centres have been opened for pre-school children.

The Government has also extended mid-day meals and textbook support to students of Classes IX and X. For tribal students, the ‘Shaheed Madho Singh Haath Kharcha Yojana’ has been introduced. Majhi reiterated the Government’s commitment to filling 45,000 teacher vacancies within the next three years.

The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the integrated transformation of schools through the ‘Panchasakha Shiksha Setu’ initiative under the School and Mass Education Department, which seeks to involve alumni in the development of their former institutions.

Referring to distinguished alumni such as former MLA Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra and former Finance Minister Panchanan Kanungo, Majhi said the school takes pride in its accomplished former students. Such personalities, he said, represent the true identity and legacy of an educational institution.

Calling for collective participation in building a stronger Odisha, the Chief Minister said the State’s future would be shaped through the combined strength of teachers’ knowledge, students’ talent, alumni’s experience and public cooperation.

He called for joint efforts to build a strong, prosperous and self-reliant Odisha.

As part of the Teachers’ Day celebrations, Chief Minister Majhi felicitated and honoured five teachers for their dedicated contribution to education and to shaping the future of students. The awardees were Ashok Kumar Satapathy, Kumudini Ji, Shakuntala Mahanti, Daitari Sahu and Jayanti Majhi.

Majhi said these exemplary teachers have played a significant role in carrying forward the school’s proud educational legacy.

Mahanga MLA Sarada Prasad Pradhan, Cuttack Sadar MLA Prakash Chandra Sethi, Choudwar-Cuttack MLA Souvik Biswal, Banki MLA Devi Ranjan Tripathy, School and Mass Education Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr N. Tirumala Naik, Cuttack Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde, Board of Secondary Education president Srikanth Tarai, Secondary Board School Headmaster Ashok Kumar Satapathy, along with teachers, students and alumni, were present at the event.