Teaching - The Neglected Sector . . .

Why do all, or most awards centre around film actors, is a question I ask after reading this comment by a school Principal, on 23rd September. The awards which have been instituted by the Telegraph the Kolkata based newspaper. The principal, a lady lamented that teachers are hardly recognized for their work.

Once education becomes a pure business and once the GDP of the country is not directed sufficiently to education then standards will fall, in both teaching and learning and this will create a vicious cycle in the process.

This is a point not only worth pondering about but also makes us think of the silent dedication of so many teachers doing their work in a very effective manner. One of the awardees in the gathering mentioned above was Bro. B. McCarthaigh who is now the head of an educational institution by the name of SERVE. Bro. McCarthaigh taught here in Shillong and then left for Kolkata in 1977. Ever since he has been working for disadvantaged children such as street children and educating them. SERVE is now his foundation by which he imparts education to the poor and needy children.

I am often shocked as to how such work get unnoticed and you need some organizations which are more humane than the rest to recognize the worth of such people. However, when it comes to awarding to cricketers and film stars we are not only flushed with them, but also with money.

The whole point is that education continues to be a neglected sector especially school education where teachers are under paid compelling them to resort to private tuition. Similar is the case with private and adhoc colleges.

I was once a governing body member in a private college in Shillong and was astounded at the academic qualifications of the teachers who were mostly first class degree holders and toppers, yet they were paid a paltry Rs. 3,000/-. I fought with the management to raise it to at least Rs. 5,000/- and after that my services were dispensed with in the governing body!

Once education becomes a pure business and once the GDP of the country is not directed sufficiently to education then standards will fall, in both teaching and learning and this will create a vicious cycle in the process. The point of this great neglect are as usual school teachers who are not recruited properly nor trained properly. Simply theoretical training will not be enough and we will have to be clear on pre entry and post entry levels. I think we are still confused with this dichotomy, that is to say who requires it and when. Once teachers are recognized in whatever manner in their role as catalysts, then this will be a major impetus for them and in turn will give them credibility as people who play a pivotal role in not only education but in society as a whole.

But how do we break myths? How do we break barriers of divide between privileged and unprivileged? Because we cannot we create this aura and dream world of stars, film stars, cricketers, CEOs, the Ambanis and their like and in the process forget sectors such as education which is the edifice upon which the entire structure of society rests. There will be no use of Right To Education unless we sort out the morass which has affected education as a whole, in entirety.

05-Oct-2012

More by : Ananya S Guha

Top | Education

Views: 3667 Comments: 1

Yes, many teachers underpaid in many places. As you say, they must be paid well and recognised for the work they do. This is one of the main reasons, why the education standards have been falling.

Padmavathi
08-Jun-2019 07:01 AM

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