To honour and acknowledge the hard work, dedication and sacrifice of teachers, India celebrates Teachers’ Day on September 5 every year; also to commemorate the birth anniversary of former President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was a scholar and promoter of education. It is also an occasion to remind the public as well as the teachers about the significant role of educators in developing a society by shaping the young minds. While acknowledging the effort of teachers in moulding the character of students and guiding them beyond the classroom, besides imparting academic knowledge, it is important to reflect the support they need to help them utilise their gift, continue the noble profession they have chosen and keep themselves updated. There is a growing need to go beyond lip service and appreciation. In the absence of such a support system, most teachers especially in private schools will take teaching as a stopgap arrangement before finding a stable job. This trend has been there for decades. But with most government schools in states like Nagaland failing the people by not providing the service it is intended to, citizens are heavily relying on private educational institutions for quality education. So, there is a need to establish a mechanism to stop job hopping trend by looking into the welfare of teachers, including salary, which is one of the main reasons for educators in private schools not considering teaching as a sustainable career.
Besides a relatively higher pay than their counterparts in the private educational institutions, the situation of government school teachers is less rosy than it appears. Some may have brought a bad name to the teaching profession in the public sector by either not performing their duties or keeping proxies to teach in their places but it is unfair to discredit the sacrifice of many. Diligent government employees end up bearing the brunt of certain stereotype created by some black sheep. It is necessary to take strict action against the errant employees. In the same measure, the government should look into the welfare of teachers and students. Several government school buildings in Nagaland, especially in rural areas are said to be in deplorable condition. The concerned authorities should address this issue on a war-footing, because a conducive environment, including well-furnished classrooms is needed for effective learning. Lack of infrastructure also could be one of the reasons for refusal of many teachers to be posted in rural areas, especially those with school-going children. This aspect can’t be ignored though it should not be the reason for not performing one’s duty. To ensure equitable and quality education for children, the government should invest more in teachers and educational infrastructure, particularly in remote areas. Teachers need government and public support.