Mudassar Khawaja
In 1998, Dr. Farooq Abdullah led National Conference government gave a major setback to the School Education by introducing Rehbar e Taleem (ReT) scheme that makes education ‘life support system’. Initially, ReTs were honoured with a meager honorarium (Rs. 1,500 per month) which forced them to look for a side-income resource to meet the expenses of their day to day life and teaching as profession remained merely a formal task to get regularised after five years. Today after 10 years, consequences of that policy are manifest enough before the government. Recent case of an ReT teacher from South Kashmir, who couldn’t write an essay on ‘The Cow’ when Court asked him, is the living example of consequences of making education ‘a life support system’. The quality has deteriorated to the extent that students of most of the government schools can’t even write and read text at matric level. The scheme might get success on the sideline of ‘life support’, but grossly compromised the quality education required to lay down strong foundation of children’s education. Now, on the similar lines again, government has decided to recruit lecturers for higher secondary level under New Recruitment Policy on contractual basis. This policy will financially paralyse those lecturers and their efforts may divert from teaching to search for side means of income. Assessing on imperative basis, the compromise of quality of education for making it ‘life support conducive’ is an irrational step on the part of government. It can be best adjudged as using education for electoral politics. Instead of repeating its past mistakes and implanting them at higher secondary level, government should make efforts to correct the wrong done to education in past. It’s a matter of great concern and government should rethink about the much needed quality education for the prosperity of the State and if the policy (New Recruitment Policy) is adamantly to be implemented, at least Education Department should be exempted therefrom.
Now, in context of contemporary situation of education system in the State, drastic reforms can produce some sigh of change. In primary education curricular reforms are much needed as the existing texts are tough for students. Here I would like to share my personal experience in teaching mathematics to pupils of class-IV. Textbook was full of examples with flowery language which was impossible to comprehend for an average student. When I failed in my first attempt, I kept the book aside and started teaching basics like addition, substruction, multiplication and division proceeding from simple to complex. Within two months my students were able to solve such basic problem of mathematics. So, my point here is that text should be more informative and factual which an average student can comprehend rather than explanative and theoretical.
Secondly, there should be some administrative reforms in the system to make it functional. ZEOs should be posted outside the district of their residence, because over the years as teacher and master fraternity nexus develop between colleagues that enmash ZEOs to take bold steps against defaulters.
Thirdly, a screening test of teachers should be conducted at district levels to assess the quality of knowledge with them and those who are not at par with the requirements of today’s education system, should be given proper training in phases manner.
Fourthly, female teachers should be made available for primary education, because they can best create home type atmosphere at school to increase attendance. Moreover, the psychology of a child can be moulded and minds can be constructed when they feel in congenial atmosphere which only a female teacher can create.
Therefore, it is my humble submission before the concerned authority to take into account my views and necessary action should be taken for general cause.
(Author is a teacher at Jammu & Kashmir Government School Education Department)