Teachers deserve a better deal

                                                                         

If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make difference: The Father, The Mother and The Teacher, says APJ Abdul Kalam Azad. Role of teacher in a nation is something that can’t be underestimated. Teacher is responsible for construction of nation. The future of any nation is dependent on its youth and it is the teacher that builds this future by nourishing individual’s soul, by shaping its character, caliber and future-bedrock for nation’s progress and development .

Every civilized nation reveres a teacher for his/her importance in the society. In countries like China, UK, USA, Turkey, Egypt, Greece etc teachers are valued more. Teachers enjoy great respect and are equated to doctors in china. In china parents encourage their children to become teachers and interestingly, in many of above countries, most paid profession is teaching. In Indian system of education teacher has always enjoyed great esteem. In both ancient and medieval periods like Vedic, Buddhist and Muslim period teacher has been exalted and profoundly honored. The people including pupil believed that no education and knowledge is possible without teacher and used to serve teachers with devotion.

In present times also, teaching unquestionably continues to be well-regarded profession and teacher as admired person but at the same time he/she is the one whose status, self-esteem is badly mauled on intervals, either by administration or public. In our Kashmir, such things are no longer new. Teachers are facing the heat from different quarters specifically from administration. Earlier, besides academic assignments they were mostly assigned non-academic jobs like, election duty, census data collection duties and were given assignments for implementing various schemes, overburdening already overburdened as handling students is no ways an easy job. (Nevertheless, fortunately though lately, sense prevailed among lawmakers that they were relieved from this encumbrance). In recent past after recruiting teachers through ReT scheme they were asked to go through screening at the point of time when most of them had turned grey and bald, a sheer mockery with them and their profession. Ironically they were asked to serve as ‘watchmen’ during last year’s agitation that amounts to belittling their value which no civilized nation can endorse.

In incident first of its kind, two teachers were fired from school by administration on their wedding day. On justifying the move school management claimed that duo was in romantic relationship that will adversely influence their students. One can ask, when before wedding there relation couldn’t impact students how after tying knot? The couple was singled out in a manner like they have committed wrong by getting married. The said teachers were true in claiming that school management tarnished their image.

In another ignominious incident, school teacher was allegedly thrashed and made to rub his forehead over his own spit by SDM, reportedly punished for seeking back a teacher sent on deputation to the SDM office for “election duty” to the government’s winter coaching program. We cannot say teacher was inculpable to be exonerated but derogation he faced cannot be rationalized by any stretch of imagination. This is not only individual insult to a person but to a teacher and teaching profession.  At a place where a teacher, the heart of education system is maltreated, how could system of education run well there. When a teacher, the agent of positive change is affronted and humiliated, how could we hope of any positive change in our society?

Before aiming to make education system better, we should improve the condition of teachers, socially and economically as well. We need to develop a system that would encourage people to choose this profession rather than discouraging them. It is only then we can have best education system. Currently we turn blind eye to this fact; however, religious scriptures serve as testimonials to it that we can’t dream of education without teacher. That is why, Prophet (pbuh), in battle of Badr released literate prisoners without ransom but on conditions to teach ten persons to read and write - an indication of Prophet’s respect for teachers. Hindu scriptures compare Guru (Teacher) with deity believing Guru is worthy for worship. If not God let’s treat him like companion of Prophet (pbuh), Hazrat Ali (a.s) taught us by saying:

 “I am slave to the person who has taught me even a single word; he can enslave me or set me free.”  It is important to mention that the quote of Hazrat Ali (a.s) is not only applicable to student but it holds message for one and all, implying how worthy a teacher and his profession is.

Tail Piece:

Give teachers the respect that they deserve as enlightened human beings are created by them.