TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
 

Dr. Pradip N. Khandwalla, L&T Professor of Organisational Behaviour, Indian Institute of Management, Vestrapur, Ahmedabad: 380056 (19th September, 1990)

- We must work on the motivation and ability of our teachers. For example, develop supplementary teaching materials for each subject taught and mail it to them free of charge; develop a correspondence course for teachers to acquire higher qualifications so that they can take on higher responsibilities; provide funds for study leave, travel for educational purpose, research etc.; form in each school a teachers' council which would take all academic decisions; provide financial incentives for extra-curricular, non-formal teaching/training, etc.

- Work hard on children's ability to learn, their motivation to learn, and their creativity and innovative spirit.

Prof. B. Ganguly, Head, Department of Education in Science & Mathematics and Dean (Academic), NCERT, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi- 110016 (24th September., 1990)

- A proper environment needs to be created for a teacher to do the task of Identifying and encouraging talented children. The teacher must be mentally prepared to accept some of his students as more talented than him. Talents go waste because within the family, in the community and in the school they are treated with all conceivable discouragements. Authoritative education, which does not encourage pupil to think and question will never be able to identify or nurture talents.

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Shri S.S. Kalbag, Hony. Director, Vigyan Ashram, Pabal, Distt. Pune (18th September, 1990)

- Nowhere is the student to teacher ratio considered. For activity based education, that we are contemplating, this has to be specified. I feel that it should be preferably 10 but not more than 15 for activity lessons. Otherwise it will become a sham.

- Teachers' salaries will be a major cost component in this reform. The teachers' salary scale should be reviewed, along with grade, working hours and place of residence. While at one time the teacher was poorly paid, now the school teacher in a small village is among the highest earning and compared to small farmers, works less but only "bosses" over. Often he is absent, given to drinking and spends time elsewhere; he cannot be questioned by poorer farmers/ parents. This imbalance has to be corrected. He must stay in the village and must have 48 hours work/duty per week. Otherwise there will be no work culture among students.

- A new category of trainee teachers should be started who will be trainee for two/three years. After training and evaluation they will be appointed as regular teachers. Trainee teachers will be fresh students after SSC or who are very good In working with hand. Good students who opt to work as trainee teachers, should be given preference in selection/facilities for higher education of their choice after a three year stint as trainee teachers in a village school. Trainee teachers may be paid Rs. 500 p.m. (consolidated) rising to Rs. 800 in three years.

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Shri Ishwar Dayal, Professor Emeritus & Head of Research, Management Development Institute, Post Box. No. 60, Mehrauli Road, Gurgaon (21st September, 1990)

- The area of concern is improving the quality of teachers. Most people have neither job satisfaction nor social recognition. There is little effort, or even desire on the part of individuals to upgrade their knowledge. In most cases, individuals have low self-image. Realistic measures to develop self-respect, desire for upgrading knowledge, feeling of being useful to society etc. are necessary to improve the quality of teachers, and therefore teaching.

- Teaching material development is an area of concern. The insistence on standard syllabus, uniform text-books, centralised text-book preparation etc. have deprived teacher initiative to develop and prepare teaching material. Individual initiative at the institution level is needed to develop teaching materials.

Prof. J.S. Rajput, Joint Educational Adviser, Ministry of HRD, New Delhi, Letter dated 4.10.90

- The paragraph on teachers calls for fresh examination. It is to be borne in mind that payscales and service conditions of teachers are decided by State Governments.

Dr. (MS.) L.S. Saraswathi, 118, Usman Road, T. Nagar, Madras-600017 - Letter dated (26th September, 1990)

- Specific modalities should be worked out regarding teachers and teacher-training. Total remodelling of teacher training institutions in terms of curriculum and teaching practices should be done. The underlying attitudes and values of the educational and

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social system which require all attention have to be internalized by the teacher if all that is said in the document Is to be practised in reality. This would mean a lot in operational terms.

Shri B.V. Moghe, Adarsh College, Shivajinagar, Hingoli-431513 Letter dated 28th September, 1990

- Strict steps to develop and maintain "True Professionalism" in teachers, be suggested. Membership of teachers in the Professional Bodies should be encouraged and rewarded.

Shri N. Satyanarayana, President Constructive Forum, 39, Babar Road, New Delhi-110001, Letter dated 8.10.90.

- At the time of selection of teachers, besides other qualifications it must always be ensured that the aspiring teachers should possess dedicative, constructive and moral minds.

Professor Dr. Omkar N. Wakhlu, Consulting Engineering, Buchwara, Old Gangribal Road, Srinagar-190001 - Letter dated 30.9.90

- Educational management must be the concern of teachers. Indian Educational Service may be constituted for the purpose. Teachers with experience of fifteen years may be recruited to the service through national competitive examination.

Justice C.S. Dharmadhikari (Retd.), Dhantoli, Nagpur - Letter dated 6.10.90.

- It will be necessary to provide for a separate grievance machinery for solving the disputes of the teachers, students and other employees. I feel that the Tribunals at the State level and national level can be the only solution.

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Shri Kshetna Mohan Giri, At&PO Mayurbhanj, Orissa (2.10.90)

- Government of India should create Indian Education Service (IES) for implementation of National Education Policy.

Shri P.N.V. Narayan, Principal, Jnanodaya School, 135, I Block East, Jayanagar, Bangalore (27.9.90)

- Improving the quality of Government Schools, Reservation Policy in appointment and stringent economy measures are contradictory factors. If quality is to be improved teachers should be appointed purely on merit basis. There can be five years contract. Renewal of appointment should be on merit and performance. Teacher-student ratio should be kept at 1:40 and 1:50 at primary and secondary levels respectively.

Shri B.N. Raghurama, Organising Secretary, Bharatiya Shikshana Mandals, Kaveri No. 21, 6th Cross Chamarajpet, Bangalore

- Teacher education should be given more importance. The teacher training courses should be rigorous. Only persons with aptitude for the professions should be selected for the course.

Shri Kondapaka Kishan Rao, Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal, Pramukh Andhra & Tamilnadu, 17-1-391/V52, Saraswathinagar, Saidabad, Bhagyanagar, Andhra Pradesh-500659 (5.10.1990)

- Code of conduct for teaching community is a factor which must be taken into consideration. A Special training facility should also be provided to them regarding the code of conduct apart from the academic and professional training.

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Shri Shridhar Vereker, near Goa, State Co-operative Bank-403401, Ponda-Goa (30.9.90)

- A special scheme should be launched to attract first class graduates and post graduates to the teaching field.

Shri V.G. Hegde, Secretary, BNDSS HM'S and COMP PUC P's Association and Principal, D.V.V. Gujarati Shala, N.K.S. English High School, Majestic Circle, Bangalore-9

- The status of teachers should be high both economically and socially. They should be IES persons. The entry into teachers training institutions must be strictly based on aptitude. The teacher must undergo updating refresher cources at least once in 3 years and he/she should develop innovative projects every year.

Shri G.M. Verma, C-4/H/164-B, Janak Puri, New Delhi (October 4, 1990)

- If education has to be related to environment and help in removal of regional disparities, the present teacher training programme has to be changed. At present it does not prepare the teachers for tribal, rural and environmental education.

Shri S.N. Bhanot, Member, National Co-ordination Committee of Indian Teachers' Organisations, L-8A, Malvia Nagar, New Delhi (October 10, 1990)

- The Policy must make clear recommendations about the status and emoluments of teachers. A New Education Policy and a new deal for teachers go hand in hand.

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Shri L.N. Sharma, T.G.T. (Sc.A), GSS Camp. School, Raj Garh Colony, Gandhi Nagar, Delhi 110031 (September 28, 1990)

In order to properly implement the suggestions made in the Perspective Paper we would require a properly trained and motivated teaching community.

Shri Pabitra Kumar Sarma, Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Gauhati University, Guwahati-781014, (5.10.1990)

- Strict guidelines should be framed to select and appoint teachers at all levels specially at the primary stage.

Shri Babubhai I. Patel, "BALI", Plot No. 26, Sector-19, Gandhi Nagar 382019 (27.9.1990)

- Measures should be devised to attract committed and self-less persons to teaching profession. Then only the policies will be implemented properly.

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