PM says teachers must have say in process of educational reforms

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressing the Awardee Teachers on the eve of Teachers’ Day, in New Delhi, in New Delhi on September 04, 2010.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said teachers must be empowered with real opportunity for them to share policy perspectives and decision-making in the process of educational development and reforms in the country.

"Teachers are invariably seen as front-line participants in educational reform, critical to successful quality schooling in our country. But, sadly, teachers are often excluded from policy-making, governance and management of our educational system as also from day-to-day instructional strategies and decision making," Dr Singh said while addressing Awardee Teachers on the eve of Teachers' Day here.

He said he beleived that all teachers were creative and talented people who respond remarkably when they are respected and included in the decision-making integral to their work in the classroom.

"They gain a sense of ownership over their work and their classrooms, when they are involved in the development of the curriculum, designing of the syllabus, making and selecting of teaching materials and in training programmes leading to their own intellectual and professional development," he said.

Dr Singh said teaching had always been considered a noble profession and his own years as a teacher had been the most satisfying and fulfilling in his life.

"Through teachers flow the values and culture of a nation and its people. Teachers’ own value system, their character and their behaviour directly influence our children. But, misinformation and limited learning behaviours, that children sometimes internalize, can also be traced back to teachers' lack of knowledge, poor understanding, or biases. We must guard against these negative features," he said.

Dr Singh said that one critical area that all teachers must reflect upon is equality and inclusiveness of the educational system.

He said numerous programmes had been initiated in the country that focus on equality and inclusiveness paying particular attention to the girl child, or children from the scheduled caste or scheduled tribe or minority communities, or for differently-abled children with special needs and problems.

According to him, such programmes will result in an empowered youth and citizenship, only if their teachers are empowered supporters of equality and inclusiveness. If efforts to increase student access, learning and retention in elementary and secondary education are to succeed and make headway, relevant and empowering teacher education is of critical importance, he said.

"This is particularly true of women teachers who must serve as positive role models for our society at large," he said.

The Prime Minister said the Government was committed to provide quality education to all.

"The Right to Education Act was passed by the Parliament last year. The Right to Education Act and Article 21-A of our Constitution guaranteeing elementary education as a Fundamental Right, have now become operational with effect from 1st April 2010," he said.

Dr Singh praised Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal for the zeal, dedication and enthusiasm that he has brought to bear on his work.

He recounted his own childhood experience of studying in extremely difficult and adverse circumstances.

He said the time had come for all concerned to change this situation and ensure that every child in the country had the opportunity to exercise his or her right to an education of equitable quality, and thereby making the Right to Education a grand national movement.

"Today, you have both challenge and opportunity to provide good quality education to all our children. Through you, our nation aspires to build in our children a commitment to the values of democracy, and the values of equality, justice, freedom, secularism, respect for human dignity and human rights," he said.

Dr Singh urged the teachers to develop in children independence of thought, action and capacity of carefully considered, decision making which is based on reason and understanding.

"Through you, our children must develop a sensitivity to others’ well-being and feelings. Through you, our children must develop the ability to work and participate in economic and social processes and in processes of social change," he said.

The Prime Minister said the educational system in the country was at a very critical juncture, with the need to maintain the fine balanace between tradition and continuity, between tradition and modernity on the one hand, and innovation and change on the other.

"As teachers, you are the most important nation builders, you constitute our nation’s most precious national resource, and we look to you to guide our children in their quest for knowledge, truth and in their capacity to lead a life of dignity and self respect," he added.

NNN