Teachers Day – Time to clean up the system!

By Jaya Shankar VS

In some 100 countries around the world, the Teachers Day is an occasion to thank and appreciate the vital and lasting contribution that teachers make to our lives, to education in general and to development of the society at large. It is also a day to spread the awareness about the importance of teachers in one’s life, and to garner support for them so that the future generations will continue to be guided by the inimitable qualities of a teacher. Today, it is equally important to identify the challenges in providing education, and work towards in cleaning up the system.

Teachers Day in India and World Teachers Day
India celebrates Teachers Day on September 05 every year on the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India, and a renowned academic philosopher and an illustrious statesman. When he served as the President of India between 1962 and 1967, his students and friends wanted to celebrate his birthday in a grand way every year. However, as a mark of respect for his passion for teaching and academics, Dr. Radhakrishnan insisted that it would be a privilege to him if his birthday was observed as Teachers Day. Thus, the Teachers Day was born.

The UNESCO observes the World Teaches' Day annually on October 5 since 1994. This is an occasion to commemorate teachers’ organisations worldwide. According to the UN body, World Teachers' Day commemorates the anniversary of the signing in 1966 of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers. It is an occasion to celebrate the essential role of teachers in providing quality education at all levels.

How it is celebrated!
In most countries, schools and colleges remain open on Teachers Day. However, unlike other working days, this day is marked with celebrations to honour the teachers, a day of thanks and remembrance and even fun filled activities for teachers! At some schools in India, the teachers are given a day off from teaching while the senior students take up the responsibility of teaching as a token of appreciation for their teachers.

Dr.S.Radhakrishnan, one man, many roles
Born on September 5, 1888, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was a professor, an academician, a philosopher and perhaps one of India's most acclaimed scholars of comparative religion and philosophy. During his lifetime, he served his country in various capacities as the first Vice President of independent India between 1952 and 1962, and the second President of India between 1962 and 1967. Dr. Radhakrishnan represented India at UNESCO and served as the Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union between 1949 and 1952.

Academically, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan held various positions including King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Science at the University of Calcutta in 1921 and Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford University between 1936 and 1952. He had also served as the Vice Chancellor of the Andhra University, and of the Hindu Banaras University. Besides, he was elected a fellow of the All Souls College.

Dr. Radhakrishnan was a prolific writer. During his lifetime, he had written many articles for journals of repute like The Quest, Journal of Philosophy and the International Journal of Ethics and also completed his first book "The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore." His second book titled "The Reign of Religion in Contemporary Philosophy" was published in 1920.

The British government honoured Dr. S. Radhakrishnan with the British ‘knighthood’ in 1931 for his services rendered in the field of education. However, for obvious reasons Dr. S. Radhakrishnan did not use the title in his personal life. In 1954, the Indian government honoured him with the Bharat Ratna and the Order of Merit in 1963. In 1938, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan was elected as a Fellow of the British Academy.

A multi-faceted personality, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan’s love for teaching and education was evident from his illustrious career and the yeomen service he rendered in the field of education. He was a man who possessed a rare blend of deep love for Hindu religion and philosophy and an open mind towards other religions and philosophies as well. This rarity in him was by itself responsible for bringing out the uniqueness of Hindu religion and Indian philosophy in the best way understandable to the western audiences. And his love and dedication towards his profession reflected in the utmost respect and love his students had for him. Truly, India couldn’t have any better day to celebrate Teachers Day than on the birthday of one of India’s most respected men of all times.

Education, teachers and teaching in India: the challenges
One of the primary challenges that the country faces today is providing education for all. This is no easy task considering the whopping figures of illiteracy rates in India. According to UN figures, 42 million children between the ages of 6 and 14 are not in school in India. And the national literacy rate of girls over seven years is 54%, compared to 75% for boys.

Besides infrastructure problems, gender discrimination, poverty, the teacher training facilities for not only the general stream of teachers catering to the normal students but also training for special teachers who cares for and teaches the ‘challenged’ category children is inadequate in the country. Even while at schools the services of teachers are not best utilised! The services of government teachers in India are being misused for census, elections and disaster relief duties during which time their services to their respective schools are denied and children deprived of valuable hours and education. These issues should be effectively addressed. Equally important is the need to devise quality education and teaching standards in all schools.

The recent government’s promise to enact the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, which seeks to make education a fundamental right of every child in the age group of six to 14 years, needs to be amended to also include children between 0-6 years of age. It is a globally accepted fact, based on research, that the early years are the most critical years for lifelong development, both from neurological and biological standpoints. And experts feel that the neglect in providing basic education during the early years can often result in irreversible reduction in the full development of the brain’s potential. The bill in its present avatar overlooks this vital point and hence needs to be amended before it is enacted into law.

Teachers, spare the rod!
While India celebrates Teachers Day on the birth anniversary of a man who spent his entire lifetime lifting the education system to new higher levels of grade and reputation, today the indifferent and ‘un-teacher’ like attitude of a few teachers in some of the country’s schools has not only sullied the hard earned reputation of teachers in India but also the spirit of celebrating the Teachers Day. Take for instance the widespread corporal punishment in the country! According to a 2007 joint study by UNICEF, Save the Children and the Government of India, 65% of school-going children have faced corporal punishment. And the National Report on child abuse by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2007 says that two out of three school children are physically abused in Indian schools.

It is disheartening to learn that there are a few sections in the Indian Penal Code that does not hold a teacher/guardian responsible for a moderate and reasonable corporal punishment done in good faith for benefit of child under 12 years, unless it causes death or grievous injury. The Working Group of National Commission of Protection of Child Rights representing the best sections involved in education and teachers in the country has voiced their support to amend these sections. And it is high time the government wakes up to introduce the amendments, and clean up the system!

Parents and students should share the responsibility
Perhaps the best way to say thank you to the teachers on Teachers Day is to share their responsibility and dreams of making the education and teaching in India on par with the best international standards! And for this to happen, the onus is not only on teachers and an effective educational policy and system but equally on parents and students as well. It is the duty of the parents to keep a close look on the students’ progress and issues at school and studies, and extend their cooperation and support to the school authorities and teachers. The students, on their part, should adopt a sense of responsibility and respect towards their teachers. Often there is a history of provocation from the student community that irks the teachers to resort to unfair practices! Hence, constant and healthy interaction with teachers will only help the students to become more responsible and better citizens and help clean up the system and uphold the spirit of Teachers Day celebrations.