Both government and private teachers contribute to society but the former face unique obstacles—no entrance tests, irregular parental support, and outdated facilities. Yet, they form admirably and deserve appreciation, not criticism.
Kousar Ahmad Rather
The performance of government school teachers is being questioned by some private school teachers in our community. Some private school teachers consider themselves superior, more intelligent, more knowledgeable, and more dedicated. This controversy arose after the Honourable Minister for Education, Health, and Social Welfare, Ms Sakeena Itoo, remarked that private school teachers are often less qualified (12th pass) than government school teachers.
These remarks sparked a heated debate regarding the performance of government versus private school teachers. In reality, a teacher is a teacher, whether they work in the government or private sector; the best teacher is simply the one who is dedicated and committed to their profession. Both groups have performed well and have contributed significantly to our society since the inception of formal education in our community.
The role, dedication, and commitment of government school teachers should not be questioned. They perform admirably within the current educational framework, often working despite a lack of proper infrastructure and the modern facilities necessary for an effective teaching-learning process. Furthermore, they educate students from economically weaker sections who may lack consistent parental support. Despite these challenges, government school teachers work hard to ensure result-oriented outcomes. They are vital performers in our society, and no one should doubt their dedication, wisdom, or knowledge.
In private schools, students are admitted only after performing well on an entrance test. This implies that only high-achieving students are permitted to enrol. Consequently, private school teachers primarily instruct brilliant students, which naturally leads to satisfactory outcomes.
On the other hand, government schools are open to every child and often enrol students who may be performing below average. A government teacher must work with these students using immense dedication, wisdom, and commitment to foster their overall development. In this sense, a government teacher often performs more effectively than a private school teacher by helping below-average students grow to compete with their private-school peers.”
Parents of private school students are often responsible and caring. They actively participate in the monthly Parent-Teacher Meetings conducted by private schools, where various aspects of their children’s education are discussed, and possible remedial measures are developed. Moreover, homework assigned to private school students is completed with the help of their parents.
However, the scenario for government-run schools is different. Parents of government school students rarely participate in the monthly Parent-Teacher Meetings. Further, these parents often do not assist their wards in getting their homework done. This is possibly because the parents are illiterate or lack interest in education.
Consequently, government teachers face more challenges than private school teachers. They have to work harder to overcome these challenges to provide a better education to these students. We cannot deny this fact, and we need to appreciate their contribution despite these immense challenges rather than criticising them or doubting their credibility.
Private schools generally have proper infrastructure and are equipped with the modern facilities necessary for an effective teaching-learning process. This is likely because they collect significant tuition fees and other charges from their students. In contrast, many government schools lack these facilities. This is often because education in government schools is free of cost, and the department must manage a vast number of institutions. Despite the lack of such facilities, government school teachers perform at the same level as their private-sector counterparts. We often see government school students appearing on merit lists and competing successfully with private school students.
In light of these facts, government school teachers face more challenges than their private counterparts. Despite these hurdles, they perform exceptionally well, preparing their students to compete effectively. A government teacher’s role is invaluable, and their unwavering contribution to education cannot be questioned. We should move past the government versus private teacher controversy; private school teachers also perform well and contribute actively to our children’s education. However, because government teachers face unique obstacles, they often must work harder to achieve their objectives.
The writer is a government teacher at Higher Secondary School, Pattan
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