The Hindu Education Plus Career Fair 2025: Responsibility of parents and teachers to identify each student’s talent, says Minister

It is the collective responsibility of parents and teachers to identify the extraordinary talent in every student and nurture it, said School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh at The Hindu Education Plus Career Counselling Fair 2025 in Chennai on Saturday (April 5, 2025).

It is the collective responsibility of parents and teachers to identify the extraordinary talent in every student and nurture it, said School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh at The Hindu Education Plus Career Counselling Fair 2025 in Chennai on Saturday (April 5, 2025).

Inaugurating the 22nd edition of the career counselling fair, the Minister requested parents not to compare their children with others, as each student has their own unique talent. “As students, you must update yourselves; studies are important but marks alone will not guarantee everything. You also need to hone your skills and talent. The world will then celebrate you,” he added.

The Minister also said that about 30 years ago, people would choose careers based on those seen around them, such as police officers, doctors, or engineers. These would vary from childhood. “So, it was a rare event to have anything on career guidance. Students must make use of this career fair in its entirety, as not many would get the opportunity to make informed choices regarding their future.”

He urged students to study what they are passionate about and then turn that into a profession. “Don’t study something because everyone said so. Today, you also know which area has a bright future. Don’t study under any pressure. Study because you have passion in that field, and not because someone pressured you into it,” the Minister added.

He also pointed out that the State government has been successfully implementing the Naan Mudhalavan scheme, with as many as 41 lakh students having been trained and over 1 lakh students having got jobs.

T. Thyagarajan, Pro Vice-Chancellor, VIT Chennai, said, “The career counselling fair is a unique platform where policymakers, the media, academic leaders, parents, and students come together to address their academic requirements.” Urging students to focus on their strengths, Sundar R. of Rajalakshmi College of Engineering said they needed to level up, improve upon their talents, and hone their skills. M. Rajaram, advisor, Hindustan Group of Institutions, told students: “You should also maintain consistency in your efforts. You should have big dreams and always aim aim high, so that you can at least reach the stars.”

The Hindu Group Publishing CEO L.V. Navaneeth, The Hindu Vice President, advertisement sales, South, Sundaresan. S, and Deputy Resident Editor-Tamil Nadu, The Hindu, D. Suresh Kumar, were also present at the event.