For attracting better brains, teaching needs to be raised to the status of a profession known for privileges, respect and recognition
SHEIKH SHABIR KULGAMI
While working in the profession of school teaching, you need to steel yourself, exhibit a strong backbone and a world of patience as a teacher. You are not considered a teacher only at school; in general society as well. A tonic of criticism and abuse dogs your footsteps everywhere — not necessarily due to your faults. Looking at the bigger picture, humanity in most parts of the world faces issues: poverty, hunger, human trafficking, rampant corruption, unemployment, forced migration of people and no or low access to quality education. Let us imagine again how education can level the field and provide equal opportunities.
Arguably, getting a quality education rests on the family’s income. But it does not suggest that all public schools are not living up to expectations, nor are all private schools imparting quality education. In the private / profit sector, quality revolves around the tuition fee. High-fee private schools do provide excellent education, but plenty of private schools (despite charging high fees) impart poor quality education. Private school teachers, other than those in high-salaried schools, do not even get minimum-wage levels of salary and that too is seldom paid on time. Do we want this for the teachers? Incidentally, a bitter pill to swallow is that we mostly do not analyse a school teacher’s work sympathetically.
The quality of learning definitely depends on several factors. And agreed that teacher quality and efforts largely impact the quality of education. Notably, it is education which not only steers mankind out of darkness but also promotes intellectual growth, leading to both individual and social upliftment. And most importantly, the noblest work of education can never be carried to the shores of progress and prosperity unless teachers, the gatekeepers of education, do not get the much-needed respect and recognition in society, and the state as well.
End of the days when school teaching was probably seen as one of the leading jobs, more so in this part of the globe ( and the teachers were seen as respectable citizens). Now, the educated youth preferably seek jobs in other fields: health, engineering, higher education, etc. For the youth, the least attractive is school teaching. Though the noble profession (of teaching ) is challenging, the energy to handle it is often in short supply. Sometimes, a little motivation is required to remind yourself that you are a teacher and that your efforts are significant.
True, even the best teacher needs a little extra push. Now and then. At educational institutions, teachers face disrespect, misbehaviour, and a lack of motivation or passion from students. But this situation never breaks the morale and enthusiasm of teachers; they see the light at the other end of the tunnel. And lead from the front.
That it is teachers who inspire students to learn wherever life may take them, besides enabling them to discover their interests, passions and themselves in the long run, is undeniable. It is teachers who give us doctors, engineers, scientists, filmmakers, architects, entrepreneurs, administrators, prime ministers and presidents; it is teachers who have the power to give us internet, atom bombs, communication towers and aeroplanes.
Agreed that some teachers reflect selfish tendencies; despite pocketing handsome salaries, they prefer to sell ‘education’ as a commodity in the “coaching centres” far from the sight of the law enforcers. These law-breaking “teachers” manage to escape the legal eye — ostensibly through unfair means. Though the government has appreciably taken a solemn stand against private coaching by government teachers, yet some employees— particularly teachers from the school and higher education— are indulging in the illegal and invisible practice through the breach of the law!
No one is above the law constitutionally; breaking the law, for whatever motive, amounts to profiteering in the name of coaching. This situation stabs school education in the back; economic and other inequalities deepen and devour society; social insecurities crack down.
It is worthwhile to note that by their sincere efforts, teachers help the innocence and ignorance of learners bloom into an evergreen tree of knowledge, which bears healthy fruit for the entire society and humanity. Without teachers, the educational institutions could become the graveyards of values — honesty, hardwork, humility and dedication.
Pertinently observing Teachers’ Day every year is not only an honour to teachers but also an irrefutable evidence that they are an asset to society. And their selfless services can never be forgotten or belittled.
However, it has been observed that time and again, most hardworking and dedicated teachers (in particular school teachers) return with a sad tale of humiliation and disillusionment if and when they happen to visit different offices for any matter.
That leaves a less-fortunate school teacher in deep trouble and heartbroken. Never have we experienced that such a teacher’s personal or even official piece of work is given priority on the premise that his/her time is precious and society cannot afford to waste the teacher’s time. That attitude needs a positive turn to raise the status of teachers and inspire the youth to proactively opt for teaching.
Yes, a handful of teachers loaf around and do not shoulder their responsibilities seriously. But no stereotyping, kindly. Foul-playing teachers have been reported to use their influence and affluence to get their way, thereby wasting the precious time of the underprivileged. No worries at all. Such people of teaching are said to have cultivated a good friend circle in offices that empowers them to feast on their absenteeism.
Pertinently, we have seen teachers living in abject conditions: they are denied their property share for decades by parents, are thrown out of the house, and their spouses are oppressed and abused. Imagine a teacher struggling to survive while she/he is expected to work wonders on duty.
Furthermore, it is akin to backstabbing when society treats teachers discourteously and divides them into good and bad ones simply based on the mode of recruitment. The division is unproductive for the victim teachers as it demotivates them. A particular but major section of school teachers is suffering from stereotyping and marginalisation. Yet, these less-fortunate teachers( though 70% of them were highly qualified before their recruitment) are giving their hundred percent—both in academic and non-academic work—whether at the elementary or secondary schools.
All teachers need to be treated equally; yes, there are a few bad apples whose services are supposedly under par, but these teachers need refinement and direction. For attracting better brains, teaching needs to be raised to the status of a profession known for privileges, respect and recognition. Money is important, but most important is the sentiment of reimagining education and teachers’ position in society. Swords destroy; smiles build.
(The Author is a teacher by profession and can be reached at: sheikhshabir518@gmail.com)