Reforming Our System (Part 1) - Teachers and Education

Once revered as Heroes of our society, teachers are now struggling to maintain the standard and respect they once enjoyed. They were leaders and often pioneers who always set examples to better life with dignity. However, the falling standards of teachers in recent years have dented its reputation to an extent that it now demands immediate and effective reforms.

There should be certain standard maintained before recruiting a teacher, either be it for junior level or senior level. I don’t want to be harsh, however, I strongly believe, they should undergo physical and metal training before being assigned a job. This will provide them the strength and agility to take responsibilities and challenges head-on. Their efficiency would shape the future of the society and the nation.

Many schools in our country do not pay their teachers sufficiently. This leads to lot of hardship to the teachers, and often pushes them to a situation where they would have no option other than starting private tuition classes. This puts enormous pressure on students and their parents, as they will have to shell out more money for their children’s education. Schools must ensure that teachers are paid adequately, as it would stop them from deviating from their mission and the core objective to influence young minds for a better future.

Responsibilities of the School Administration

Schools and other educational institutions must provide their teachers with latest teaching instruments and gadgets. This would make sure that their teachers are informed about the latest technology and would help them to deliver their best performance.

Reference: I recommend a website (check below link) to teachers and other professionals, who wish to keep themselves up-to-date with latest tech on the web. Sometimes you need this kind help to keep up with the pace and time. Its specially good for teachers.

Free Technology for Teachers – (By Richard Byrne) 

The school administration must make sure that the language teachers, in general, must have an authority and fluency over their preferred language. This would create a positive impression on the students about their teacher.

The administrations and concerned authorities must focus on providing better sanitation, clean and adequate drinking water to the students and their teachers. Many schools, especially in cities, have a single building for conducting classes, however, with no recreation facility. It is important that children have access to play grounds and other recreational methods, as it will keep them healthy and active.

Every individual and institution has a role to play in nation building. Sometimes a small contribution or scarifies makes all the difference. The higher cost of education, often deter the poor from taking up education seriously. However, if the schools reduce the fees (I am not saying zero) for parents of the children who are poor who are not capable of paying the standard fees, it would make a drastic difference to only the parents, but our whole education system. This would encourage the poor to send their children to the school regularly and ensure a better, brighter and dignified future for them.

If the teachers and our education system want to achieve the standards that they once enjoyed back in the days of “Nalanda” and later, then they must eliminate the “Termites” that are slowly chewing and destroying the foundation of our society.

• The points that I have mentioned in this article, are my personal opinion.

Thank you.

Kanai Lal Banik (Retd.)

Indian Navy