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 the 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 8-10 KM 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 the 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 two 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 and 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.)
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