For many years after the declaration of board results of matric and 12th classes, it has been observed that the performance of private schools verses public schools has been much exemplary. Every member of the society irrespective of being or not being the stakeholder criticizes the performance and hardwork of the government teachers. Couple of days before on the occasion of national teachers’ day also, principal secretary school education department expressed his anguish over the worst performance of government teachers. He said “Why can’t the government teachers drawing handsome salaries from state exchequer take a lead from the private teachers whose salary is many times lower than the government teachers “. For many days after the results are announced print, electronic and social media leaves no stone unturned to chide the government teachers over their dismal performance. On the other hand their private counterparts and private schools are encouraged and praised by every means. Now the question arises and needs to be answered. Why the government schools are far behind their private counterparts, are only the teachers responsible or is something wrong with in the system ? Through many experiments it can be proved that it is not a teacher alone but largely the system responsible for the displeasing performance of government schools. For a trial basis, if for a single session the private teachers are assigned the job to teach in government schools and the government teachers are directed to teach in private schools. Obviously the performance of private schools will be much better than their earlier performance because the teachers now posted in these schools are much qualified as well as experienced. On the other hand the performance of government schools will be even dismal than their previous performance because the teachers now posted in government schools can’t prove their mettle when actually the raw material isn’t like what they used to deal in their own private schools. Private Schools admit only those children who pass screening test and can afford huge amounts to meet their expenses. On the other hand in government schools admission is open to all irrespective of social and economic background. In these circumstances if private schools are performing better than public schools, it shouldn’t be astonishing to one and all.
Government teachers have been since long demanding the common curriculum for both the types of schools but till date this demand is unmet. When government itself isn’t accepting this long pending demand of teachers who actually have to deal with system, how can you expect the best results then. Why don’t you accept the reality instead hold only the teachers responsible.
Further the infrastructure and curriculum in government schools is not pleasing due to which not only government teachers but other government servants including bureaucrats show reluctance in admitting their wards in these schools. Government teachers have been since long demanding the common curriculum for both the types of schools but till date this demand is unmet. When government itself isn’t accepting this long pending demand of teachers who actually have to deal with system, how can you expect the best results then. Why don’t you accept the reality instead hold only the teachers responsible. In 2006-07, I was working in a private school. In mid June, I was given the task of teaching mathematics to class 8th. For first four months students hadn’t learned anything due to unavailability of maths teacher. When the results came to fore, all the students were succeeding including the four who had gained 100% marks. I used to get a meagre remuneration of Rs 1400 a month. Today I am getting handsome salary, if my results somehow are dismal in government school, would you hold me responsible for poor performance, inefficiency, bad raw material or the system. Need of the hour for all stakeholders is to shoulder the responsibility in order to overhaul the system.
(Author teaches at Govt Secondary Anderwan Ganderbal . Views are his own)
