THERE were times when Teachers were kids’ best mentors. They studied, researched, simplified subjects, and taught. They were available to students, always. They were taking salaries, but their ambition was to be the best teachers. Their vision was to see each child educated for not just examinations, but for life. Students followed their teachers. They too learned to study, research, simplify their answers, and make the lessons useful for life. Examinations were to test the quality of their own work and improve — both for teachers and students. And yes, they were all government-run schools, or government-aided. Appearing simple and sleepy, yet sincere. Then, commerce barged into the scene. However, private schools were just a new trend at first, and remained a prestige point for the rich. Others did not mind staying off the trend. The middle class wasn’t ashamed of staying true to its pockets. But commerce is ruthless. It thrives upon buyers. It uses all tricks to generate need, and then demand. It eventually succeeded in pulling the middle class into the game. The numbers in government schools began eroding.

 

The earlier schools were dubbed low quality, with an unspoken, yet conspicuous ‘Down Market’ tag. They started repelling even the middle class, thanks to subtle, sophisticated marketing techniques by private groups. With all their shine, private schools became synonymous with high quality education. Even the most principled parents did not realise that they had started running after seats in private schools for their wards, putting at stake all they had, just to stay relevant among their peers. Private schools soon had a competitor – the coaching classes. However, both the rich competitors quickly calculated their profits in working together. And now, they are happily married. All this is just an observation, not a rant or lament. Because, although the packaging has changed, the one element that is core to the education still remains. Teaching. Despite being one the one of the worst victims of this whole transition, the Teacher is still doing his/ her job with passion. Evident, because a lot of study, research, techniques to simplify subjects for students is going on.

 

All this, despite the unnecessary volumes of excel sheets and power points the Teachers are taxed with. Students too are performing and growing, despite being subjected to schedules unnecessarily made harsh. Remarkably, this is happening in government schools too, which are not oblivious to the humiliating ‘down market’ tag. No matter how many ‘duties’ and ‘initiatives’ the Teachers are engaged into, their good work is on. The government school teachers are definitely doing their job well for years, for there have been hundreds of examples of students from small villages rising to big positions. The system, in which parents are the biggest stakeholders, must recognise that the Teacher must be freed from all the shackles of merciless corporate discipline or government bossing. Meanwhile, behind all the noise and distractions, Teachers are doing their job with equal passion today. Because, Teachers are Teachers, still. n