In an article in bloom.bg/17wtWKO Mr Jim O Neill suggests a 10 point program to improve the economic efficiency of India. Let me scribe some thoughts that flashed through while reading the article. (1) It is important to note that 2 out of the 10 step program suggested by Mr Jim O Neill, are to improve our system of education. I opine that the main reason for the deterioration of values and productivity of our people is due to the way in which we are educated. Anywhere and at any time the teachers are the blood, brain and bone of the society & they influence much in shaping the society. The Govt. should be very much concerned about the quality of teachers. A person’s character, quality of all attributes, conduct, aptitude & commitment in teaching, updating of knowledge level etc. should be evaluated before enrollment as a teacher. A system of continuous evaluation should be there for all the teachers (360 degree appraisal) so that anyone found unworthy of being a teacher, during any time of service, should be filtered out and shifted to other professions or other jobs. There should be opportunities, for any person having the required academic qualification, eligibility and aptitude for teaching but employed in other professions or jobs, for being enrolled as a teacher, irrespective of age and other considerations. Employment in alternate services should be ensured by the Govt. for those teachers filtered out. Because, a teacher even if not in active service, should be respected. A continuous process of filtering and recharging will upkeep the quality of teachers in service. Salaries & wages for such ‘gurus’ should not be limited to the so called UGC rates etc.; they should be paid whatever they want. (Is it too much?) The Govt. should create a pool of employable teachers after evaluation and selection from prospective candidates (fresh & those in other services) by an appropriate authority. Something like a ‘Teaching Licence’. It should not be something like TTC, B Ed etc.; it should be only a selection process. Govt. and private institutions can employ teachers from this pool only. Education should be brought directly under the control of Central Govt. and the control should have a federal nature so that the regional interest on language, arts & culture, history etc. are taken care of. This should be made applicable for all teachers from primary to post graduate level. Such a protection for this vital profession will generate good citizens. It may initially take a transition period of about 12 to 15 years for an explicit feel of the favourable sea change in all aspects of development of the country. (2) On step – 8 regarding farming, I suggest that the dignity of farming should be improved and raised to a very high level. Farming should be a practical subject in schools. Two years of practical farming in approved social farming groups should be made compulsory for the youth prior to joining any job under any employer (including in private sector). The cooperative sector should be made a central subject. The idea of cooperative movement should be spread (I am doubtful whether the cooperative sector is included in the curriculum as a form of business organisation even in business schools) to each and every corner of all villages without the hindrances of bureaucracy, local political involvement etc. so that the exploitation of middlemen can be avoided to increase the income of peasants. Of course, these thoughts form only a structural frame which needs thorough discussion and refinement prior to be chosen for implementation.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 06:18:58 +0000
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