retire, do not tire

Retire, but do not tire

Punjab rural education is in doldrums.
No teacher is ready to work in schools.
These are some of the phrases that people concerned for education often say.

Whereas on the other hand, the government teachers have their own notions, which can be neither categorized as wrong and nor as being right. They argue - How can we teach? Thousands of posts of teachers lie vacant in rural pockets. Many a times there are just two teachers from more than 200 students. How can we do justification with these children?

While some schools are under-staffed others are over-staffed. There is no rational distribution. Moreover, teaches are being deployed on no-academic work – such as conducting surveys for electoral list.

Both aforesaid ideas are true to every core. But it's not only Punjab wherein teachers are being asked to do non-academic work. Neither it is the only state to ace shortage of staff. But it does have the dubious distinction of having poor results – especially in primary education.

One might have come across these grievances and redressals many a times. We will no more dwell on it. And instead will follow another path. A few days ago, one of my friend's father retired from his job. After serving 35 years in a government institute, it had become a ritual for him to reach office by 9 am and be back home by 5:30 pm.

But post retirement, he started finding it difficult to kill time. Seeking a company, he daily visited someone, had cups of tea over talks and returned home in the evening. During one such visits he met village sarpanch who told him about the pathetic result of village's school. Reason – 168 students, up to eighth standard, had just two teachers. Sarpanch suggested him to help out with school affairs and teach students. Already waiting for an opportunity, the gentleman was eager to teach students.

He is not the only example. There are many like him in villages, who after getting retired, pass their time talking worthless things or interfering in household matters. This would not only solve problem at the school level but will go long way in developing future of rural students – who have got immense potential, but little resources.

One can get retired from post, but not from work. More such volunteers are needed in the field of education who can change the very fabric of academics.

Unemployed B Ed Teachers – Try this Gandhigiri..

Repeated protest marches and agitations by Unemployed B Ed Teachers had done little to wake up government. On the contrary, government has started taking these protestors as granted and considers these dharns as a routine matter.

These unemployed youth can resort to better means of protest. They can started teaching at primary school voluntarily thereby insulting government for not giving them a patient hearing. These agitating youth usually employ to begging, cleaning cars and roads to insult government. But don't you think teaching government school child is a better option and a constructive protest.


Inder preet singh