Schools in J&K gear up for Modi's pep-talk on Teacher's Day

The PM's speech will be beamed live to over 18 lakh government and private schools

Preparations are underway in various schools, particularly in rural and remote areas of the state, ahead of the Teacher's Day celebrations, the Jammu and Kashmir government today said.

Prime Minister Modi is to give a pep-talk to about 1,000 selected students at the Manekshaw Auditorium in New Delhi on September 5, which will be beamed live to over 18 lakh government and private schools in the country through Doordarshan and education channels.

"We have already directed the district magistrates and directors to provide facilities throughout the state, particularly in the rural and remote areas and to ensure that the students watch this programme live", Secretary, Department of Education, J&K, Nirmal Sharma told reporters here.

The prime minister will 'interact' with students here and take questions through a video-conference facility. The telecast will start at 3 PM and will continue up to 4.45 PM.

"It (Teacher's Day) is going to be observed in a new and energetic way this year. On this day, prime minister will directly interact with schoolchildren and then he will give a speech through live telecast throughout India, which will reach out to all the schools and all students will watch this programme", Sharma said.

The secretary said the students will assemble by 2.30 PM at some schools in rural and remote areas and tv sets and and generators will be made available if there is no power supply in these places.

"All children and schools have been instructed to ensure implementation of the order. All facilities including web, Internet, educom and edusat and radio and tv set would be made available as the requirements in the schools", she said.