There is much hue and cry these days on the screening test of ReT’s , more on the negative side than on the positive. I too had an urge to write in favour of the screening test but being indisposed I could not dare pickup the pen. But a write – up by professor Javed Mughal in daily Excelsior dated 25-08-2015 prompted me to pen down a few lines despite my ill health. I have always appreciated his upright thinking.
Hon’ble Justice Attahar deserves high appreciation not only for his sagacity and his sincerely felt concern for the budding generations but also for the grit shown by him. Giving judgment against a large section of employees, most of whom are the favorites of the political high-ups, is a courageous step.
Hon’ble Education minister’s prompt acceptance of court’s direction is also praiseworthy and shows his honest bent of mind and his parent-like worry for the budding generations. Had he no such noble intentions, he could have delayed the implementation of the court’s direction through dozens of excuses as we have seen happening in the recent past. Now one word regarding his leader, the Hon’ble Chief Minister. Many of us may differ with him on some ideological aspects but his sincere intention to have a neat and clean governance is beyond any doubt.
In this write- up, I shall touch two aspects. First I shall express my difference of opinion with him on two points. Secondly, I shall dwell on other points which I feel have remained untouched and also suggest some remedial measures.
1. I appreciate all points raised by Prof. Mughal but I differ with two.: -
(a) ….even for decades together, all the erstwhile Govts. could not notice the non-sense going on in the education system. (b) ….corruption ruled the roost and irregularities gripped this pious department. (c) ….when permanent teachers, masters, and others drawing handsome salaries could not generate and maintain the quality of education, how can a ReT be expected to do so? (d) ….All the regular teachers, lectures and even Professors need to be examined microscopically & if it is done, a very gloomy picture will come out. (e) ….some of the ReT’s and the school teachers are “a thousand and one times more competent” than the school Lectures or college Professors (the statement is correct but much exaggerated) (f) ….even bureaucrats should not be exempted from this touch stone policy because the virus of incompetence is everywhere. (g) ….the ReT’s are by- product of a faulty system nurtured by erstwhile governments.
2. My difference of opinion with that of Mr. Mughal: -
(a) Prof. Mughal maintains that the lack of infrastructure and low wages of ReT’s are responsible for their dismal performance. Quote, “….here we are expecting an ReT to ensure quality education against Rs. 3000 only….” . He has committed a fallacy by linking money with good performance and honesty. Though it is quite another thing that teachers must be paid high salary. The wrong does not lie so much with low wages as with the selection of very inefficient (rather illiterate) ReT’s. Can a monthly pay of even 50,000.00 enhance and ensure the efficiency or honesty of the ReT who could not write a single sentence on Cow? Since the inception of the scheme in 2000 till 2014 ReT’s were paid only Rs. 1500 per month for the first two years and I have my self keenly observed many efficient and well intentioned ReT’s teaching zealously, efficiently and with pleasure. Though all felt that this was very low remuneration yet it never affected their honest performance.
I started my career as an under Science graduate teacher (N.M.) in March 1962 with a monthly pay of Rs 80 (Eighty) only. I had always to work in high or higher secondary schools because under science graduates were rare then and I had earned the good wishes of the students, teachers and officers. I had to teach six or seven out of total eight periods. I used to teach with my full energy though I felt (as others did) that the pay we were getting was very low. But this unjust pay never induced in us the feeling of “ KAM CHORI”. I used to tell myself, “If the Govt. is not paying us what we deserve, why should we victimize the innocent children instead of fighting with the Govt. Good wishes gained from others are much more valuable assets than dishonestly earned wealth as those good wishes provide us that mental and spiritual joy which no amount of wealth can.”
(b) Mr. Mughal says, “ an ReT is after all a human being, he has a family to be subsisted….he has to justify his status in the society….”. This may be a right thinking regarding capable ReT’s but to generalize it would mean to turn the education department into a charitable trust where any illiterate young man could be employed as teacher so that during his whole service, he could send thousands of innocent youth into the dark cave of Plato. At one place Mr. Mughal has lamented that “the inefficient lectures and professors have rendered a much more loss to our academic world than….”. If he is so much against inefficiency (and he is right), then why should he show sympathy to every ReT and oppose their being put to the screening test?
3. Now my own opinion: - One particular “non-sense going on in the education system….” that has remained untouched is the practice of unfair means in the examinations that started in early sixties, reached the climax during eighties and continued till nineties and still continues with a bit lesser severity (except most of ETT’s and B.Ed Colleges where it has reached the climax now).
This has done the greatest harm to our generations, much more than any other corrupt practices. Though now the government intends sincerely to improve the method of selection of teachers in future so that only capable ones enter this pious department but nothing has been said by any agency as to what is to be done with those teachers etc. who are the product of these unfair means and are doing great harm to the nation. Let screening test of the ReT’s with fake or doubtful certificates be conducted in the first phase followed by that of other ReT’s and then of regular teachers as proposed by the Govt. Remove the first category or those who are only a bit better than these, but think otherwise regarding others. If among others, those who fail to qualify the test how many can be removed. I think not less than 50% teachers will have to go.
This is a near impossible task. Even if the govt. become adamant to go to this extent, will they import the substitute from heaven as all the prospective substitutes will be almost of the same standard – thanks to the firmly established unfair means culture? When I recall the capability of our teachers or of my contemporaries, it seems that most of today’s graduates are at the most as good as the matriculates of our time. Majority lack the minimum required command over English which has unfortunately been now made the medium of instruction, many of their concepts regarding the basics of Science & Mathematics are wrong. And this is not true only of Govt. schools but of majority of Pvt. Schools.
In my estimation 70% students in urban areas, 40 % in semi- urban areas and not less than 25% in rural areas are studying in Pvt. Schools. Government must think about the welfare of this 50% (average) student population also. While the Pvt. Schools are better in regularity and non-truancy yet they suffer from three major drawbacks: - (a) As for inefficiency of the teachers is concerned, the Pvt. School are not better than govt. schools. (b) They show very high marks on the report cards of their students up to 7th class to keep the parents in good humor. (c) Every school has a set of books different from that of every other school and the books are changed every year. The short space here does not allow me to elaborate the harm being done to the students by this practice.
Now I shall talk of the remedies:- (a) I favour the removal of teachers like the one who proved himself to be an illiterate person in the court and also those who are only a bit better than him. (b) As for others, they too must be put to screening test but the questions should not pertain to what they have read in graduation or Post – graduation courses but to the subjects they are teaching in schools.
Otherwise very few can get through (this applies even to almost all other officers of other departments ). (c) Leaving those who fare very well in such tests, all others must be made to undergo two month’s orientation course, subject wise every year. (d) The trainers should be mostly retired teachers/ masters/ head masters/ lectures/ principals who are definitely experienced and knowledgeable people and also have ample time at their disposal. In every district/ Tehsil, there are many such reputed people whom the general public knows well. Such people should be searched out and their services & experience must be utilized as Modi Ji has also suggested many times. (e) These trainers must be provided with effective powers so that they may be able to get the intended work done by the trainees.
At the end of this course there must be a written test. (f) For the rest of the year there should be an effective and strong supervision system. The supervision should be in the nature of a constant guidance from a sympathetic and competent senior. However those who willfully remain negligent must be brought to book. And the same trainers may be entrusted with the supervision duty also. There are very few people who work honestly and diligently of their own accord. Majority is of those who work only when a whip is hanging over them and that’s why a strict supervision is essential otherwise when the cat is away the mice must play “Ghar Wala Ghar Nahin, Hamain Kisi Ka Dar Nahin” is an apt saying.(g) In all private schools the same books must be taught as is done in Govt. Schools except for those pvt. Schools which teaches CBSE Books and the yearly change of books should be strictly banned.
But the J&K State Board books which are taught in Govt. schools need much improvement which must be done at the earliest. (h) There should be external supervision on Pvt. Schools also as most of them are hollow from inside. (i) I think it is the result of some unwise thinking that English has been made the medium of instruction right from Class 1. This should be withdrawn forthwith. The ‘what’ and ‘how’ of the harm done by it is beyond the scope of this short write-up and will be dealt separately in some next write-up. The Teachers should be paid highly.
Lastly I appeal the general public to support this new policy of the Govt. and not be misled by the wrong propaganda of some vested interests. I was surprised to watch on TV one law knowing leader expressing his sympathies for every ReT and not for the children which these ReT’s may spoil. This he must have said with some political gain in view otherwise how could an intelligent man do so. His intelligence is doubtless but his wisdom is very much doubtful.
O. P. Rao
Retd. Lecturer(English)
21/7 Saraswati vihar, Bohri, Jammu.
Mob: 94192-40063
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