Translating
Literacy into Education & Employability
Ban on private tuitions a challenge
& opportunity for teachers.
by
Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary
We grew up in a remote village going to a single-room
building housing the Primary School later upgraded to Middle standard where 2-3
teachers would deliver the task of nation building with classes run in open and
a bad weather or little downpour would mean a holiday. The ecstasy of joining
High School and Higher Secondary school was short-lived as it was marred by the
pain of walking more than 8-10KM every day; some of us opted for moving to the
town, some opted to work in fields and many dropped out for various reasons.
The Higher Secondary located at the base of mighty Pir-Panchal ranges would be
the hub of all activity - a dozen teachers, higher classes, aspiring students,
small tea-stalls and shops coming up around. One thing kept us all going and
motivated was a set of dedicated, committed, well-qualified and zealous
teachers, many would were nightmares given the strictness and hard
discipline.
Almost all the students were first generation literates,
barring few wards of Government employees, and the only stake was on teachers.
Crossing flooded rivulets or wilder areas would also appear as a part of the game.
Most of the teachers were non-locals. Some would teach the students in evening
in turn of rent-free accommodation. Years later we were doctors, engineers,
IAS, police officers, teachers, businessmen and in many other professions. When
I look back, in 17 years after we passed out of Higher secondary school things
have changed -- massive infrastructure under Sarva Shiksha Abhyan, Rashtrya
Madhyamik Shiksha Abhyan, State Schemes, Model Schools, Modernisation of
laboratories and libraries, IT Education and so on. The human resource
viz-a-viz teaching faculty has also seen massive surge with state having nearly
1.25Lakh teachers i.e. more than 100% increase. Right to Education and material
support for education too have continued to improve over a period of time.
One thing has certainly deteriorated which needs to be
explained by us all-administrators, teachers, students, parents and all
stakeholder--is poor educational standards, bad results, weak teaching-learning
process and visible lack of that commitment and zeal, with many exceptions
though. During same period the commercialisation of education also ran parallel
not only in state but entire country apart from expansion of educational
institutions. J&K has more than 95 Govt colleges, 142 Private colleges, 750
Govt and private higher secondary schools and around 25,000 schools. More than
2250 small and medium coaching centres are running active in addition to 2
dozen odd competitive coaching centres. Mushrooming of BEd and ETT colleges on
commercial lines nevertheless was an eye-opener.
Education system in state has evolved on many fronts but
likewise many concerns and issues cropped up which are seen as ailing the
nation building profession. Respect, honour, status, position of any profession
cannot be granted by Govt orders or granted by statues but it is earned through
sweat and blood. There are still hundreds of teachers in villages and
hinterland working with selfless dedication which makes it possible for us to
see brighter students, professionals, experts and toppers in various fields
emerging from places unheard of. Commercialisation of education and
deteriorating educational standards have driven the recent policy changes and
even prompting the Courts to intervene for streamlining the teaching-learning
system at various levels.
The recent order prohibiting Government teachers from
taking any other assignment including tuitions and coaching without prior
permission has been called into controversy in some quarters without much
consideration. Such a directive has come after 12 years of executive process
started with ban on tuition in 2005 and judicial scrutiny at the level of High
Court followed by the matter landing up in Supreme Court. The matter has now
been settled by supreme court. Private assignments can't be taken up by
Government servants is a settled law.
Service rules are an agreement between the employer and
employees which is a universal truth. All public servants are governed by
notified Service Rules and Conduct Rules. Even an IAS or All India Service
Officer is not allowed to take up any other assignment than such
responsibilities entrusted upon him by the government. S/he has to seek prior
permission for even being a member of trust or society to say the least. Every
other thing remains under regulated scrutiny be it accepting a gift, earning
some money, purchasing/disposing a property. One has the option of going on
sabbatical or seeking leave for pursuing permitted job options. Likewise, no
profession is expected to work in conflict of interest. A government teacher
employed in a school running a Coaching centre could be seen like an SDM
dealing in real-estate by facilitating land sale-purchase or a Cop mediating in
crimes after duty hours. Banning private tuitions / coaching by govt teachers
may not do wonders but it is one among much needed structural reforms for
recovering our education system. Next could be relieving them from duties like
that of Booth Level Officer, Election staff, Census Duty, SSA-Mid day meal,
school & toilet constructions and so on which are a great detriment to
quality education. Teacher training with continued skill upgradation and
capability building needs to be added. Further, permission could be accorded
through a devised mechanism for allowing private tuitions during vacations
where such special arrangements are not made by government. The
"permission" clause in the order banning private assignments makes a
case for regulated permissions.
In J&K, as per 1981 Census population of 43.91 Lakh out
of 59.87 Lakh was illiterate representing 63.71% Male Illiterates and 73.33%
Female Illiterates. There were only 6200 graduates in state. In that generation
we find eminent doctors, researchers, civil servants, journalists, leaders,
writers, teachers, artists and so on. In next two decades literacy increased
from 26.66% to 55.50%. Between 2001 to 2011 it rose to 77.12% with a quantum
jump of 22% and projected estimates of 2016 have the literacy of state pegged
at nearly 84.5%.
This literacy has not been translated into education or
employable education which is a serious cause of concern. The official
definition of literacy since 1991 is "the total percentage of the population of an area at a
particular time aged seven years or above who can read and write with understanding"-
which doesn't entail a bare minimum educational qualification. The statistics
beyond this are disturbing. There are only 8.5% graduates in India and several
reports suggest nearly 60% of them are not fit for hiring. The demographic
dividend at the turn of century when 65% of population between age 15-35 years
was seen as country's strength could not be harnessed in that quantum prompting
the Governments to lay special focus on skill development and employability.
We still find several
graduates, post-graduates and professional degree holders appearing for posts
notified for Matriculates under Class IV or contractual categorisations. It is
not that suitable opportunities are not available for them but lack of
capabilities, professional competence and job-worthiness. Even for one post of
Class IV hundreds of applications are received from Graduates and PGs. J&K is among states having highest
Government employment at nearly 5% and beyond that it can't be sole employment
provider rather the educated graduates would have to explore avenue to become
job-providers instead of job-seekers.
Translating literacy into
education and education into employability is the serious most challenge which
educationists, teachers, administrators and stakeholders face today. We have
almost reached the threshold of producing a whole lot of educated population
not fit for hiring. At national level J&K has not been able to surpass the
magic figure of even 1% either in Civil Services Examination, IIT, JEE, NEET or
other competitive examinations conducted by Commissions and Boards every year,
when all these competitions constitute a very little of overall employment
opportunities.
Education, Employability,
Social & Cultural values are core of learning system which can't be left on
commercial lines to tread for emerging situation of haves and have-nots. The
per capita investment in Government schools is much more than private schools
which needs to be converted into desirable results. Teachers are well known as
nation builders but the instant challenge for them is to rise to the occasion
of self-less service to the future of India while endeavours continue to
upgrade educational infrastructure and human resource management.
[
The author is an IAS officer of J&K Cadre. Views personal. Feedback:
shahidiqbalc@gmail.com]
