Nearest-to-home posting of teachers feasible policy
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: September 07, 2022 -

THOUGH government educational institutions in the state, especially schools from pre-primary till the higher secondary level, continue to lag far behind when it comes to providing quality education and producing top performing students at competitive examinations, honouring the teachers every year on the occasion of Teachers' Day celebration underscores consistent endeavours of successive government to boost morale of the teachers and inspire them to objectively guide their pupils.

On account of private school students generally cramming the top slots in every competitive examinations, sincere and industrious government school teachers receive hardly any accolade and as such the awards presented to teachers from school level to colleges to commemorate Dr Radhakrishnan's birth anniversary drive home the message that the government understands the importance of encouraging the teachers to inspire them become the much-needed change maker of the education system.

Out of the uncountable numbers of teachers across the country and in the state, the annual awards ceremony brings to the fore that there are a handful of teachers having firm resolve to make a difference.

For the establishment, Teachers' Day celebration essentially is an occasion to reflect back on the contributions made by India's second President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, best remembered as a philosopher, scholar, teacher and politician, and his dedicated work towards education.

But for the commoners, Teachers' Day is one occasion for the students, past and present, to express gratitude to those teachers who shaped their life.

As had been the tradition, schools organise various activities of celebration, thanks giving and remembrance for the compassion shown by teachers to their pupils to become successful men and women in life.

Even if there are uncountable number of children who don't get the opportunity to get that special feeling because they never got to experience the joy of learning, for those fortunate ones the occasion obviously brings back the nostalgic moments of the schooling days.

At the state level celebration function held on Monday, minister Govindas Konthoujam called upon the teachers to guide their pupils to the path of wisdom and enlightenment, thereby testifying the huge responsibility loaded upon the teachers' shoulders to not only promote healthy relationship with the students but also prepare them to excel academically and overcome the imminent challenges in pursuit of their life goal.

While Govindas' exhortatory speech was aimed at invigorating the teachers to complement efforts of the government to improve the education sector in general and help make the government schools vibrant in particular, Education minister Basantaku-mar's observation that teachers should be posted nearest to their residences to enable them understand the local situation and issues sounds feasible.

For instance, one perennial problem dogging the government schools in remote parts of the state has been the designated teachers skipping duty either through an understanding with the local authorities to part with certain amount of their salary or due to lack of accommodation facilities.

Thus, having acknowledged that teachers staying close with their families could be the game changer, it is suggested that the minister put into practice his vision as and when the proposed rationalisation policy is initiated as grievances of the teachers must be addressed as they are entrusted with the duty to mould the future pillars of the society.