Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday advised students not to become overly dependent on technology, including Google and artificial intelligence, and stressed the importance of human thinking alongside digital tools.

Addressing a grand function organized by the School Education Department at the Nehru Indoor Stadium here, Stalin released a training manual for the entry-level training of 2,715 newly selected teachers. Through a video conference, he also inaugurated 59 new school buildings constructed at a cost of Rs 94 crore and laid the foundation stone for 243 additional school buildings worth Rs 277 crore, as well as the Bharat Charana-Saraniyar headquarters building.

Stalin said teachers should view students as future doctors, engineers and leaders, and carry a sense of responsibility in shaping their lives. “Nowadays, it is easy for teachers to take lessons. Earlier, we had to learn by rote. Today, opportunities have arisen to teach subjects like science, history and mathematics more effectively. But we must remember that not all information is knowledge—there is also unnecessary content,” he said.

He emphasized that students should not become a generation that relies solely on technology. “They should not hesitate to ask Google or AI, but we must help them understand the difference between technology and human thinking,” Stalin added.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the importance of holistic education, urging teachers to focus on literature, general knowledge, social discipline, as well as students' physical and mental health. He called on educators to ensure that caste and gender discrimination do not influence classroom learning.

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Ministers Nehru, Subramanian, Ganesan, and Chennai Mayor Priya participated in the program.

School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh announced a cash incentive of Rs 10,000 for students who score 100 out of 100 in Tamil, a subject close to the Chief Minister's heart, and encouraged both students and teachers to prepare diligently for upcoming examinations.