Five things that teachers want from Modi on Teachers' Day
Last year on September 5, lakhs of school students sat transfixed in front of the TV and projector screens listening to a teacher they all knew too well. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a virtual paathshala, addressing the youth of the nation on Teachers' Day, a day that is celebrated in India to honour the legacy of philosopher Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan and educators around the nation. While Modi urged the students to inculcate the value of respecting their elders and fostering the right attitude towards success, he also addressed the teachers in his short live telecast to take the tradition of guru-shishya (the educator and the learner) forward through constant and constructive changes.
The Pearson Voice of Teacher Survey 2015 shows that 57 per cent of the teachers surveyed believed that students are not adequately prepared for employment and 75 per cent were collectively in support of industry collaborated curriculum restructuring. We asked educationists about five things they would want Narendra Modi to address this year. Here is what they had to say. Hope you are listening Mr Modi.
Bunker Roy, founder, Barefoot College, Tilonia, Rajasthan
1. All teachers in primary and high secondary schools located in the rural areas should be accountable and answerable to the village panchayats. Because the panchayats have no control over the teachers, there is absenteeism, poor quality teaching, dropouts at the primary level and the communities are not interested in the schools.
2. There should be two separate educational policies: one for the urban area and one for the rural areas.
3. De-link educational qualifications with skill development. There are millions of skilled workers repairing hand pumps, diesel and electric pumps, tractors, agricultural implements in small towns and large villages who are semi-literate. We should respect and applaud them and encourage more such people if the ultimate goal of this government is to provide productive work. Instead we penalise them just because they can barely read or write.
4. Start rural community colleges with a completely different set of rules that value and respect practical skills over theoretical knowledge. Sadly we have millions of mechanical, civil, electronic engineers coming out of IITs today who are unemployable.
5. We have been led to believe 60 per cent of the children - especially girls - between ages six and 14 cannot attend government primary schools in the morning because they are involved in helping their parents with domestic chores (fetching firewood and water and looking after animals). It is important to establish night schools more for the convenience of the children than for the teacher.
Neetu Kapur, principal, GD Goenka Public School, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
1. There must be teacher stability and teacher attrition.
2. There must be parity in teachers' salaries.
3. Skill development is a must for teachers.
4. Compulsory workshops must be carried out to ensure teachers are equipped to teach.
5. Exchange programmes for teachers and principals at national and international level must be conducted.
Dr DR Saini, principal, DPS RK Puram, New Delhi
1. While it is a commendable effort by the PM to directly address the student-teacher community, an initiative that government leaders rarely take, it is also essential that he realises the importance of focusing on the issue of providing basic infrastructure to such a community. Students need a roof over their heads, books and stationery. It should be made mandatory for every school to conduct classes in rooms equipped with benches, desks and boards. We can then proceed towards realising the dream for smart classes with computers and technology-aided teaching.
2. A largely neglected part of the education system is the role of the parent. A parent needs to be educated about reforms as much as the teacher. Their collective wisdom can strengthen the institution of learning, identify lacunae and constructively work towards solving problems faced in the education sector. Under Article 21A, Chapter 4(a) of the Constitution of India, every parent must ensure that his/her child receives an education. Moreover, parents and teachers have the authority question the government about education reforms in Supreme Court (Article 32) and high courts (Article 226). The government must reach out to students by urging parents to take a proactive role in their child's education.
3. Students are the most important stakeholders of the education system. All reforms must be student-centric and safeguard the interest of the child. 65 per cent of the Indian population comprises of the youth, a youth policy must ensure effective channelising of such a population towards productive endeavours.
4. It has been seen that education in India has been divided in two; one for the rich who can afford private schools and other for poor backward population, who go to government schools. Such a division has created confusion regarding the standard of education in the country. It is not homogeneous and equally beneficial for all. Under the Right to Education Act, every private school has to enrol 25 per cent students that belong to the BPL (Below Poverty Line) category. How can we address the issue of eliminating class-based education by providing every student a right to dignified learning?
5. The youth doesn't see teaching as a viable career option. It is usually considered as the last option for those seeking employment. Though the lure of a government job may make many take up the teaching posts in government schools, many opt out citing the reason that government schools do not provide a conducive working environment. Teachers in private schools also complain about the lack of respect they receive. Low salaries are the major reason for many to leave the profession early. Perks, incentives and privileges must be introduced to attract the youth towards this profession. Satisfied teachers will teach with enthusiasm and passion and enable learning in the healthiest way possible.