It’s holiday...when teachers don’t show up! RIGAM RAJU TAC NEWS BUREAU When peeked deep into the present educational scenario of most of the poor rural areas in the state, pied questions behind the low quality of education prevailing in these regions echo in my mind. Quality and access to education is the major concern in rural areas as there are fewer committed teachers, lack of proper text books and learning material in the schools. Though Government schools exist, but when compared to private schools then quality is a major issue. Majority of people living in villages have understood the importance of education and know that it is the only way to get rid of poverty and other hardships. But due to lack of money they are not able to send their children to private schools and hence depend upon government schools for education. Above that, in most of the government schools in the remote areas there is only one teacher for the entire school and if they don’t show up at work, then it is a holiday. “Sir log aata nahi hai...nahi aane se bhi achcha hai..chutti milta hai...(Teachers don’t come, it’s better if they are absent, for we get holidays) ”, exclaims Naga, a student of class three in the remote Pipu, as he is addicted to the observable fact of his teachers being absent in his place, one of the most backward outposts of East kameng. The question of adequate and efficient teachers that too committed in remote village schools arises, again. Progress in achieving the goals of Education is being slow because of lack of adequate supply of teachers, their effective deployment, a failed training system to equip them with the required skills and lack of efficient management and career structure that would result in well performing teachers. The matter is worsened by the easily accessible B. Ed and other training certificates by some private and Govt institutions in payments of huge amounts to the untrained teachers in the state. It is now well acknowledged that without good teachers we cannot have a good education system, and without a good education system no state or country can provide its citizens a quality life. Nowhere is this truer than in our state, where a majority of the people live in poverty and few have access to quality education, when the education in the rural Arunachal is concerned. Experienced as a teacher in some of the remote schools of East Kameng and Kurung Kumey Districts, the vision is clear that only about half of the school-aged children currently attending school are likely to acquire the basic skills needed for them to live healthy and productive lives. For, due to poor backgrounds and inefficient teachers most of the rural children are being deprived of gaining the critical skills, such as reading, writing and math, salient most in the remote villages of the state. Lack of proper infrastructure at these rural schools is also a big concern. Most of the schools don’t have proper classrooms, teaching equipment, playgrounds and even basic facilities like clean toilets. Thus, the poor condition of schools is big reasons to drive away students. Proper availability of basic facilities like clean toilets, drinking water, adequate classroom facilities, timely motivational programs for teachers etc should be there, as per my views and the need of time. The right renovation can definitely bring about a positive change towards the development of rural education in the state. The need and question of efficient teacher development can’t be overlooked for a better and greater tomorrow.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 13:31:42 +0000