Aijaz Ahmad Dar

Walking just a half kilometre from my locality, one can count or locate at least ten schools. Walking a further 100 or 200 meters, more six schools will catch your eye. On the one hand it is quite excellent that our Kashmiri people are so interested in education, but on the other hand is the question that are these schools really imparting education or they have been set up just for business? Most owners are interested only in earning money and only a few are sincere about doing something for the welfare of the society. No doubt that in the last few decades literacy rate of our state has increased, but is there any yardstick for judging the quality of education?
Education does not mean just to know how to write or read. Education is a way of becoming civilised by attaining the right knowledge. No matter how highly qualified a person, if does not know the etiquettes of behaviour he cannot be an educated one. Education of a person is reflected in his behaviour. In the past there were no schools but still people lived a good life without worries. Science is advancing day by day and inventing new gadgets one after the other. It has left behind old methods and ideas but along with them it has also left behind moral values which are perhaps much more needed in this time.
We have to realise the real purpose of pursuing education, and only then our hard work will bear fruit. Teachers can bring about extraordinary transformation in society. Teachers are role models for students. They should practice what they preach. Their actions convey more than their words. There is a saying, “As the teacher, so the student”. Teachers can make a modest beginning by helping and guiding children to keep their school premises clean, instilling in them a sense of punctuality and a sense of duty. There is a good deal that can be done by united efforts of teachers and parents. Students learn values from what the teachers are rather than from what they say. Teachers make a significant impact on the personality of a student in the formative years. Students imbibe virtues and vices knowingly and unknowingly from their teachers. Teachers must have a good attitude and should possess rich values. They should act as friend, philosopher and guide. A teacher is not only a source of information but is also a mentor and guardian. For this, the teacher must respect the teaching profession. Students will seek inspiration from teachers who have high self-esteem.
A decade back or so, the role of a teacher was limited to being a source of information. But today this task is done more by books, coaching classes, multimedia technology, etc. So, the role of a teacher has changed. A teacher’s main responsibility now is to nurture values. Teachers can impart good values through discussion, experimentation, and observation. They can make a note of the positive and negative traits of each student’s personality. They can organise cultural and sports events to instil team spirit, the sense of sharing, spirit of cooperation, patience, courtesy, etc.
Value education help students find their place in the world and build their self-confidence. Values promote holistic development of students and aid in their academic achievement. Teachers can introduce experiential approaches to value education as a means to counter an overly cognitive curriculum and to address issues of behaviour, discipline and social attitudes. The role of teachers cannot be underestimated in developing good character among students.

The writer is a student of MSc Mathematics at MANUU. [email protected]

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