For whom the bell tolls

-Meher Wan

      Education is considered as the backbone of a Nation. Doyens of intellect have kept on speaking about importance of education. Several missions and Andolans are being carried out by the governments and non-government organizations for the same. Still, it is very important and considerable question, what are the reasons for the present unhappy state of education in India?

     Article of Justice Markandey Katju, “Professor, teach thyself” (Sept.3^rd, 2012, Op-Ed, page-7) raised some fundamental issues about basic and higher education in Indian scenario. Many institutes, which provide professional education, are not contributing for the nation as much they can contribute. Brain drain is a big issue regarding world class institutes like IITs and IIMs. But the question arise, who is responsible for this brain drain? Or who is responsible for the unhappy state of education in villages or small cities?

     The problems of basic and higher education are fundamentally different and should be considered separately for better understanding of the Indian education system. Appointment systems for teachers should be upgraded and motivated candidates should be given opportunities. This is true that some teachers do not perform their duties properly in government schools. In democratic system, higher authorities of teachers should be aware of these irregularities and must take actions for the same. In these types of cases, attitude of villagers or local public is also very crucial as they can make a self regulatory system for monitoring of school teaching. It should not be forgotten that villagers may be irresponsible on this issue as many of them are still illiterate but the corrupt higher authorities are much dangerous for quality of education in villages. In addition to that, governments sponsored many programs like Polio eradication program, census and midday meal etc. are conducted by school teachers. How much time is given to them for teaching? I have a friend, who is a primary school teacher, seems always worry about the extra work given to him except teaching. There are firm rules for these tasks related to events like elections and other programs but what about teaching? We have monitoring systems for every task in democratic era but for teaching it is certainly not, except routine examinations of students, where local teachers only are the sole authorities. There should be external monitoring system for the same at primary level teaching too; it may be liberal depending on the conditions.

      Few decades before, school teacher was considered much respected, and this was the reason for many to join this profession. Now, it is not so for teaching exactly? Even at university level, promotions are given on the basis of research papers, not on the teaching quality of a teacher. So why should one try to upgrade teaching? People just try to publish research papers and attend seminars or conferences discussing on ‘how to upgrade education level’ like issues and keep collecting certificates to promote themselves for higher posts.

      Some months before, a reputed Hindi news magazine conducted a survey on state of higher education in India and ranked the Indian universities from different point of views. They put a well known university^* of north India on the top in the field of teaching. The ground reality of this particular university is that almost half of the teaching posts are vacant at present and research students are taking classes at graduate and undergraduate level. I fear to think, if this is the condition of an institution of first rank in teaching, what would be the condition of other underprivileged institutions.

      We always compare ourselves with institutes of other countries like China. I have seen some research papers of well repute in applied sciences, which are funded by the Municipalities of small cities of China. Do we hope for the same type of awareness from different small public fronts of Indian cities or towns? If not, we should stop dreaming of being developed or prosperous country where masses will be benefitted by money of tax-payers. I often think when will we stop wasting our energy in blaming each other and will try to be responsible people of democratic India in real sense.