Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, urged teachers and principals of schools to ensure students understand the difference between knowledge and information. With more of the new generation growing up with access to digital technology, they often don't have real knowledge.

Speaking at the Ninth International Principals' Educational Conference 2026 on Saturday, 24th October in Nagpur, Fadnavis discussed the difficulties around teaching Gen Z and Gen Alpha with the rise in technology. He also said it was important to teach children in mother tongue. He said it was important for children to use mobile phones responsibly and ensure they are taught human values as we move into an AI driven world.

The three-day event on the 22nd-24th October at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) MIHAN, Nagpur aimed to bring together principals from different educational institutions across India on the theme "Understanding WOW (World of Wonderful) Generations - Bridging Insights and Innovations".

Knowledge vs Information

Fadnavis said our new generation of children have been raised in an information and technology explosion.

“Gen Z and Gen Alpha were born in the information explosion, and technology explosion. So, they have got a lot of information but they don't have any knowledge.”

The Chief Minister said teachers and principals are important to ensure students can understand this information. They can support them to understand and use it.

Why we should teach in Mother Tongue

Fadnavis said we should teach children in their mother tongue. He said that language plays an important role in brain development. He said that many of the developed countries teach children in their native tongue. Developing countries often teach in a language that was given to them by the colonizers.

This ties in with the National Education Policy's focus on mother tongue. It is important that children can learn and communicate in a language they understand.

Using Technology Responsible

Fadnavis said it is important to not turn away from technology. It's important to teach children how to use it responsibly.

He said we should not assume that AI can replace human values.

“AI doesn't have human sensitivity; AI doesn't have any ethics.” It is important to teach children empathy and morality.

Fadnavis urged educators to ensure that as technology is changing classrooms, children still have knowledge, critical thinking and human values.