PROF DRAIN

“Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions.” ~Author Unknown

Today’s India possesses almost everything. Latest technology, brands, cars, you name it. Agreed, most of the poverty-stricken do remain poverty-stricken, but barring these few sad aspects, our country is definitely in a respectable position.

One aspect, however, that is conspicuously missing for quite some time, but the pangs of which are being felt since recently, is the absence of good, professional teachers in our country, especially in the grad and post- grad levels. The question that obviously rises is: Why? Why do so few people follow the academic path? Why is that, barring a few premier institutions (like ours.. :D), the others have sub-standard and under-qualified faculty? Why does the academia from our country prefer settling abroad, rather than teach here? The questions are many, the answers are not so..

One of the prime reasons is the mushrooming of the various coaching centers across the country. Though it is indeed, knowledge being imparted here, the main issue here is the money involved. The teachers and lecturers are literally auctioned for, by the various institutions. Under-handed politics and a lack of commitment toward the students is a direct consequence. This would not have been the case if the respective person had joined a proper institution or college (like ours.. :D). With teachers changing colleges every six months, the professionalism just crumbles.

Another possible reason is the lack of recognition and dignity of a professor, at least one who is teaching in a governmental institution. The pay is not so good, and the respect is obviously lacking. Evidently, not very good reasons for one to stay here. Hence, the emigration. At least in the States, you get a good pay, a peaceful life, and the proper status that the position of a teacher demands. I am not saying that we insult our profs here.. (or maybe we do, at least in the Osmania University), but, for example how many Indian profs do you see appear on NatGeo or Discovery. One may think them as trivial, but it surely matters a lot to the prof(and his family) if his ideas are shared on TV. So this is also one of the factors we have to look upon.

Okay, enough to the problems, now to the solutions. Not that there are many.

· The first thing we should do, is to definitely increase the pay and credibility in all the professional Govt. institutions.

· Attracting the youth to the teaching path is also a required path to follow. Advertise the benefits of the profession, make it more attractive, and the people will come. The same scenario was recently seen in the intake of officers through the UPSC.

· Strict guidelines and rules must be imposed upon the coaching institutions regarding their hiring of teachers. (not that I am advertising Aarakshan.. :D)

· Interactions with profs with students even from schools must be encouraged.

These are but few of the many things we can do, to improve the education in our country. Cummon people, we need teachers. They are essential for our country’s development. Moreover, it certainly does not help if they are contributing to another country’s development. So let’s strive to make India one of the better places for education.

Cheers..!

Post by:

~~Sushobhan Parida