Of The System of Education and The Educators

When you point the finger at an inefficient teacher, do not forget to give thumbs-up to the talented lot

With its tattered fabric and a hollow foothold, the system of education of the state, predominantly that of the Valley stands naked today. Every day is a day of a new exposé and subsequently a day of desperate want to reform the system. One can picture sludge drenching the structure of the education system in its filth and quite often, being a part of such an organisation feels like a lot of shame and disgust. However, I have had days of pride and honour as a teacher and therefore, have a strong belief that positioning the blame exclusively on the shoulders of the community of teachers, unabridged and uncut, is not at all fair. It is discriminatory ,disheartening and of course discouraging. No doubt, the muck is viscous but, staging an act at the cost of the honour of the educators alone, is not going to settle anything. There is much more to this than meets the eye!

I have a friend who is working as a govt. teacher in one of the govt. Middle Schools of the valley. A PhD in Zoology, he is well-read and can effortlessly make it to the catalogue of well qualified, dedicated, efficient teachers; if we ever happen to have a list of that kind. Like thousands of other competent teachers, he gives it all to his occupation and has already created a niche for himself. At least, I would like to think so! Among his many colleagues is a man who has a degree of class 12^th as his highest qualification. Yes, that is right! A PhD scholar and someone who is not even a graduate do stand at par with each other in our system of education! The muck does not get sloshed on us from some other planet but, it is our produce. Like a ghost, the other guy has made his way into the department under the shady shelter of one of the many ‘misused’ education policies.

With a demonstrative slogan of ‘Padhe Bharat, Badhe Bharat’, Atal Bihari Vajpayee pioneered the SSA scheme in the year 2000. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, The Education for All Movement aims at universalization of elementary education but, there seems to be no provision of control and quality check. The most important objective of the scheme is; free and compulsory education to children of the age group 6- 14. However, this one seems to have been dwarfed by the other two generously exploited objectives, which are:-

·         Open schools in areas which do not have them. 

·         Address inadequate teacher numbers.

Both the points are important for the success of the scheme and an honest implementation would have changed the scenario of education in the valley. But, that is just a thought! In practice, the standards are smacked to death and the rules bite the dust while the scheme gets clothed in the paints of politics. The fashion trend changes every election year and the place for a new school and the nature of a new appointment is subject to the magnitude of the vote-bank. All of this is done with blatant brazenness and the civil society watches as a mute spectator whereas demonizing teachers is convenient. Not fair! As rational inhabitants and significant stakeholders, we should all carry out an exploration every now and then, speak and make sure that the monster does not poke its venomous antennae into our shrines of learning. There are 3 - 4 SSA schools within a kilometre of distance in the areas which are potential vote-banks and the mode of appointment of SSA teachers is beyond a layman’s ability of understanding. Every time I meet a SSA teacher, all I can do is watch speechlessly with my mouth wide open; surprised and stunned! What is worse is that by a series of promotions these people make it to middle and high schools in practically no time.

The SSA scheme has a big brother too; the RMSA (Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan). The scheme was launched in 2009 and the main objective is to enhance access to secondary education and to improve its quality. I am not well aware of the nitty-gritty of the scheme and therefore cannot discuss the details. I truly hope, we do not see the nuts and the bolts of this one too fall like fig leaves.

Another one of these ill-famed schemes is the Rehbar-e-Talim scheme. The word ‘Rehbar’ means ‘one who paves the path of light’. And, the hilarity of the issue is that; those who neither qualify the screening tests held by the selecting authority of teachers, the SSRB and nor fulfil the eligibility criteria in totality, pave their way into the system of education as its ‘Rehbar’!  I know many people who are working as Rehbar-e-Talim and some of them do personify the definition. For some it is just a matter of destiny that they are not able to make it to the department through the proper channel. But, an exception is always an exception and it should not be drawn into a generalisation. If it is, the catastrophe is inevitable. This scheme too is openly mishandled and the impact is apparent on the educational set-up of the valley. The selection/appointment of a ReT is done purely on mathematical basis and the one with the highest qualification in a particular area gets appointed. In many areas, this highest qualification is a degree of 12^th class only.

Those who are not able to find a place in the department of education through any of the above mentioned schemes, have a saviour by the name of ‘SRO-Case’. If a kin has died during the years of turmoil, the government has its arms unfurled to embrace the wounded even if it damages the system beyond repair!  I guess, we will have to tweak the thorns of political uncertainty of our valley till eternity. And, when we are done, all that we will be left with, will be the ruins. Sigh!

I am sure all of you have heard of the infamous, Mid-Day Meal Scheme. I don’t have a problem with this one as such but, a teacher’s job is to teach and he should not have been told to be a kitchen-master. Many teachers have also been accused of corruption in this regard which is very much possible. After all, for how long can Adams’s son wear the cloak of ‘Prophet’s Profession’!

The government launched this scheme in 2001 to enhance enrolment and to provide nutrition to children. Nourishment of small children is important but, in the process, the health of government schools has deteriorated. Isn’t it possible to have people from some other department, say, the department of social welfare, to be placed in schools so that they can monitor, if a child is receiving that minimum content of 300 calories of energy and 8-12 gram protein per day or not!

The world is evolving at the speed of the god’s particle and the pattern of education is becoming better and better.  In order to keep pace, we cannot afford to place the future of our nation in the hands of poorly qualified teachers. All these schemes, which are acutely weakening the system, need to be monitored meticulously. Moreover, the government should establish a system of accountability too. I am a part of the department of education for 7 years now and I have yet to see a proper method of appraisal. In fact, ‘proper’ is just an adjective and it has nothing to qualify! Speaking the truth, we actually do not have any system of evaluating a teacher’s performance. Yes, there are surprise inspections from time to time, either by the district administration or by the ministry itself but, a surprise inspection is always a matter of chance. Such an assessment cannot lead to a reliable calculation of a teacher’s capacity. 

The present government is, without any doubt, making laudable efforts to revive the system of education. I am not trying to flatter; the attempts being made in this respect are for all of us to see even though we all wish, the dampener, ‘the new job policy’ is rolled back as early as possible!  The torches have been lit and the intention seems to be dead-on. But, as we take the initial steps towards the revival of the  system, no one should forget, there are teachers, and a good number of them, who are changing lives. While pointing the finger at a tainted one, make sure you give thumbs- up to the talented lot too!
For the latter, here is an ode I wrote last teachers' day;

I nurture the nestlings and I caress the wings;

I fashion the flights and I shapen the lives.

Many a thoughts I romance, for I design the dreams;

Many a skills I poetise, and thus the dark gleams!

I embrace the frail and I unfetter the brave;

I polish the rough and I neaten the naïve.

Many a boats I anchor, for I brave the storm;

Many a blades I steer, and thus shelter the lorn!

I capture the dawn and I conquer the twilight;

I unravel the mysteries and I enlighten the night.

Many a cries I hear, for I bosom the maladies;

Many a lines I smoothen, and thus scatter the smiles!

I foster the frightened and I frame the fearless;

I raise the leaders and I build the Nations.

Many a roles I play, for I teach;

Many a souls I touch, and thus I breathe!