Derelict teachers threat to government schools
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: November 30, 2022 -

Close on the heels of Federal Students' Organisation, Kangleipak (FESOK) claiming that a government school teacher, who never reported to work after joining the service, was found working as a guest lecturer in some private schools, another case of government school teachers apparently undermining the reason for enjoying monthly salary paid from the tax amount contributed by the public has been exposed by Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF).

Briefing media on Monday, MSF vice president Hijam Roshan contended that some teachers of government schools skip classes while many other schools in the state are facing shortage of manpower to guide the future generation of the society.

Such allegations levelled by the two student bodies within a short interval deepen public's suspicion thatsome individuals only see the teaching job as a means to ensure stable income and live life with worldly comforts instead of living upto the people's belief that teachers are life changing role models and no other personality can have an influence on the students more profound than a teacher.

There is a saying that as moral compasses, teachers should effectively bridge a relationship with the conscience of the students in such a way that they learn to act morally in ways that will produce the best desirable consequences for the positive transformation of our future society.

It's also an undeniable fact that hope for progressive society will dissipate in case the teachers can't produce a transformative effect as their roles are not only limited to the text book rituals but they also have to be role models for the young impressionable minds.

While government schools desperately need visionary teachers, who could hold the future of a strong society through the students, to improve performance in competitive examinations, MSF's disclosure that Haoreibi Awang Primary School under ZEO Wangoi was found locked when its inspection team reached the institute at about 11.19 am exposes lack of enthusiasm on the part of the teachers and betrayal of such a noble profession.

With similar scene of closure also re-enacted at Konthoujam Primary School under Bishnupur ZEO-IV (B) it could be safely concluded that interest of the students is not accorded priority by teachers of both schools.

Some of the teachers might have urgent personal issues, including religious events, to tend to and took the leave but there is no justification in ceasing the day's classes and denying the entire students their constitutional right to education.

Such irresponsible acts are sharp deviation from the parents' expectation from the teachers to impart academic lessons and mould the students through teaching deep from the heart, which will lead to building a strong relationship with the students.

Compassionate teaching will also help create a healthy learning mental wavelength in generating interest and broaden learning capacities of the students.

In short, teachers are life changing role models and no other personality can have an influence on the students more profound than a teacher.

Sadly, in Manipur's context government school teachers not only have the notorious reputation of clamouring for posting at schools of their choice but are also epitome of collective failure considering the consistently poor run of government schools in competitive examinations.