Teachers' Day: Students will get aptitude certificates, says Modi

Continuing with his annual interaction with students on the occasion, Mr Modi on Friday said students would soon get aptitude certificates in place of character certificates at the end of schooling that would reflect their overall personality.

Interacting with the students at Manekshaw Centre, and across the country through a video link, the Prime Minister said the human resources development ministry has been asked to give aptitude certificates instead of character certificates, which are even awarded to jail inmates, and said the aptitude certificate would contain peer reviews in the areas of discipline, punctuality and friendliness that would eventually help the student correct himself.

“I have asked the department to give aptitude certificates. We will develop a software and every three months friends would be asked whether the student is disciplined or not, is punctual and friendly (or not). Parents and teachers would also be asked and the information collected from all corners will help the student to correct himself,” the PM said. He said the move will help a student evaluate himself and decide for himself his future and his preferences in life.

Noting that parents often force their children to do what they could not achieve in their lives, Mr Modi said such pressure has left children thinking only about degrees and jobs.

Regretting that politics has acquired a bad name and is scaring away good people, Mr Modi asked people from all walks of life to join and not be apprehensive about it.

When a student from Goa asked him about his favourite sport, Mr Modi quipped, “We all know the games politicians play.” He responded to a range of questions, during his 105-minute interaction with the 800 students.