More than gatekeeper of information

In this ever-changing world, teachers’ role has become more challenging. They need to impart a holistic education, connecting curriculum to the real world in a relevant manner, observes P M Mathew.

A great teacher and former president of India Abdul Kalam once said that a student during his school life up to Class XII spends 25000 hours in a school campus. His life is more influenced by the teachers and the school environment. Therefore, schools should have the best teachers with the ability to teach and build moral qualities.

A teacher’s place in society is that of a visionary architect, whose mission evokes universal respect. It is not the bricks and mortar that makes a school or college efficient - not even the books in the library and the appliances in the laboratory.

It is the teacher who makes a good school or a college. It goes without saying that the teachers’ role is crucial to the success of our endeavours to impart quality education to our children. Teachers have to be an integral part of policy-making, governance and management, in addition to their day-to-day instructional strategies and decision making.

The nation’s future depends on its teachers as they train and prepare tomorrow’s nation builders. The contributions of our teachers are vital to the social, cultural and economic growth of our nation.

Unchanged with the times

Today’s teacher’s role is more challenging and dynamic. While today’s society has adapted to an ever-changing culture, education has remained comparatively unchanged. The world is literally at our finger tip now.

But when we look to most Indian class rooms, we would find that very little has changed in the past 20 or more years. We may find better lighting, air-conditioning or even a computer or a smart board in some class rooms, if we are lucky.

But the process of formal education has changed very little over the past several decades. Education still mainly involves teachers ‘data dumping’ information to students to cover the curriculum in preparation for a standardised test. Most teachers are just broadcasters of content. And if education has not changed with the times, the role of educators has not changed as well.

Applying knowledge relevantly

The role of the teacher has traditionally been that of a gate keeper of information. It was an important role 20 years ago when the class room was the focal point of information dissemination and teachers were information oracles.

There was no internet access, 24 hour cable news, or cell phones to access exorbitant amounts of information instantly. Access and availability of information was limited, and it was the teacher who held the keys of the knowledge kingdom.

Today’s students are inundated with information from the fast expanding print and electronic sources. This overload of information means that the teacher now has to compete for the student’s attention. If a teacher’s teaching does not appear relevant, students develop a disinterest in the subject.

Therefore, the focus of education today should be on the personalisation and application of relevant knowledge rather than simply filling student minds with random facts.

Towards holistic education

There is a disconnect between the formal learning and the world beyond the class room. The teacher’s role must be redefined to meet the needs and demands of today’s culture. We can no longer separate the class room from the real world. Students should be influenced by intellectual information rather than simply by the pop culture of today.

A dedicated and committed teacher can make wonders. S/he should consider each student as a potential addition to the human resources of the country.

A good teacher will not restrict himself/herself to the completion of the prescribed syllabi. S/he should help his students to integrate their social, emotional and intellectual growth. He can contribute to the holistic development of the student’s personality.

A successful holistic education model should focus on the personal, interpersonal and societal skills of students.

First, teachers could be trained in the various components of holistic education to be delivered to all students through student centric class room engagements. Such an approach provides additional empowerment to our youngsters to make better decisions in their personal lives.

Teaching - art and science

Teaching is both a science and an art. The science of teaching requires content knowledge, organisation, management skills, and detailed planning.

The art of teaching is about making connections to students, parents as well as connecting curriculum to the real world in a relevant manner. If the art and science are harmoniously integrated; that will result in an environment in which the teachers will thrive and students will flourish.

To bring about the desired changes our teachers should practice more professionalism in their teaching. They should recognise the fact that much of their work is to be done outside the class room in approaching teaching as a science.

Becoming an excellent teacher is a continuous lifelong professional challenge. Recent researches have reported that the two most important factors that are crucial in exemplary teaching are love for teaching and learning and respect for students.

The teachers in turn should be provided with the necessary   freedom, time, space and support to exercise their role as effective teachers.