I begin with the quote by Swami Vivekananda: “Educate and raise the masses, and thus alone a nation is possible.” Quality education — an inclusive and meaningful learning system that equips students with critical thinking, practical skills, and ethical values rather than relying on learning by rote — is a prerequisite for national strength. It forms the foundation for personal growth, economic stability, and global sustainable development. In order to level the field, promoting quality education could be an equaliser.
Arguably, receiving quality education rests on the family income. But it does not suggest that all public education schools are below par ; neither are all private schools imparting quality education—one which provides effective, valuable learning experiences to build essential skills, critical thinking, and real-world readiness. In the private / profit sector, quality revolves around tuition fees. High-fee private schools do provide excellent education, but plenty of the private schools impart poor-quality education.
Quality of learning definitely depends on many factors. But teacher quality and efforts largely impact the quality of education. Notably, it is education which not only steers mankind out of darkness but also promotes intellectual growth, leading to both individual and social upliftment. And most importantly, education could hardly fructify if teachers do not get the much-needed respect and recognition in society.
End of the days when school teaching was probably seen as one of the most attractive jobs—more so in this part of the globe ( and the teachers were seen as respectable citizens). Now the educated youth preferably seek jobs in other fields: health, engineering, higher education, etc. For the youth, school teaching is the least attractive. Though the noble profession (of teaching ) is challenging, the energy to handle it is often in short supply.
Sometimes, a little motivation is required to remind yourself that you are a teacher and that your efforts are significant. True, even the best teacher needs a little extra push every now and then. At educational institutions, teachers face disrespect, misbehaviour, and a lack of motivation or passion from students. But this situation never breaks the morale and enthusiasm of teachers.
That it is teachers who inspire students to learn wherever life may take them, besides enabling them to discover their interests, passions and themselves in the long run, is undeniable. It is teachers who lay the foundations for future doctors, engineers, scientists, filmmakers, architects, entrepreneurs, administrators, prime ministers and presidents; it is teachers who have the power to give us the internet, atom bombs, communication towers and aeroplanes.
Agreed that some teachers display self-serving tendencies, preferring to sell ‘education’ in the ‘ coaching centres ‘ ostensibly through unfair means. Though the government has appreciably taken a solemn stand against [private ] coaching by government teachers ( has banned it), yet some employees— particularly teachers from school and higher education— are allegedly indulging in the unlawful activity behind a corruption network.
Overlooking the statutory provisions undermines school education even as it feeds into the economic and social inequalities at the wider level. That, among other factors, births social insecurities and, by extension, destabilises institutions—something we can ill afford as society on the whole.
Granted that teachers work at educational institutions helps the innocence and ignorance of learners bloom into an evergreen tree bearing healthy fruit for the entire society and humanity but floating norms undoes the impact of a good work. Not working within the law could turn educational institutions into the graveyards of values: honesty, hardwork, humility and dedication.
Pertinently, observing Teachers’ Day every year is not only an honour to teachers but is suggestive of a consensus that they are an asset of society. In other words, the services of teachers can never be forgotten or belittled. One is well within one’s rights to treat the personal work of a teacher as something worthy of attention. And if the disposal of the case can take five minutes to complete, it is in bad taste if it takes days together to be disposed of.
The intentional delay or a casual handling of the matter leaves a lesser-known school teacher distraught and heartbroken. It remains to be seen when such a teacher’s personal or even official piece of work shall be dealt with on priority, on the premise that his/her time is too precious to waste. Bad mouthing the teaching profession is a common sight; analysing their work objectively could be sought.
Yes, a handful of teachers on various occasions have been noticed loafing around outside the school premises. Similarly, it is very disturbing if teachers are found absorbed in discussing or doing economic activities rather than teaching all the while over the course of duty hours. Shameful as it is, that code of conduct can leave the image of schools in tatters as well. It is assumed that such teachers use their influence and affluence to work off course. No worries at all despite playing foul.
On the other hand, we have the teachers living in pitiable conditions: they are denied their property share for decades by parents, are thrown out of the house, and their spouses are abused to the point of death at times. These teachers are hardly lent an understanding ear.
And it is akin to backstabbing when society treats teachers discourteously and divides them into good and bad ones simply on the basis of the magnitude of their pay grade. A particular but major section of school teachers has time and again sustained stereotyping and marginalisation. Teachers’ sensibilities need to be respected without exception.
The teachers whose services allow for some unserved hours invariably need to be taken to task at the earliest. Above all, to attract better brains into the teaching field, the profession needs to be raised in status and achievements. To raise the quality of education, a collective effort appears to be the key.
(The author is RK columnist and teacher by profession. Feedback at: sheikhshabir518@gmail.com)
