SATB holds Seminar on "Public Education-Challenges & Solutions"

The South Andaman Teachers’ Branch of the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association has organised a Seminar on the topic “Public Education – Challenges & Solutions” on 10^th January, 2015 (Saturday) at Govt. Secondary School, Delanipur from 10 a.m. onwards. Dr. Vijay Kaushal, Professor in Commerce & Management, Himachal Pradesh University, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion, delivered the Keynote address.  In his address, Dr Vijay Kaushal, elaborately explained the adverse impact on the education sector following the implementation of neo-liberal   policies in the country since 1991.  It was the view of the then government immediately after independence of the country, that we should spend 6% of our national income for education sector but that is not happening now, he said. The huge amount of money available with the Life Insurance Corporation of India Ltd., which is now being invested in the Education and Health Sectors, are now targeted to be utilised for private sector through the Foreign Direct Investment for which amendments in the  Insurance Laws are being done through Ordinance, Dr Kaushal said.     

   Addressing the Seminar, Shri Durg Vijay Singh Deep, Dy Director (News), AIR Regional News Unit, Port Blair, Special Guest on the occasion, who has considerable experience of the education system in these islands due to his long association with the islands, threw light into certain realities in the school education in these islands and called upon the teaching community to make an introspection to the degradation of standard in the education. Both teachers and parents are responsible, to a larger extent, for the shaping of a student as a good citizen. He expressed concern over the absence of sacred relation between the teacher and student.          

 Speaking on the occasion, Dr  Sant Prasad Rai, Retd Vice Principal,  who worked in a number of schools at various places in these islands,   explained  the  lack of facilities provided to the students in the schools especially  those of  rural areas  and  said that the Administration should deeply  study the causes of  continued  fall in the standard  of education in the islands. He said that primary education is going to the stage of paralysis  in the union territory. He expressed his apprehension about the money earmarked for the education sector in the islands not being spent properly. 

Presenting his views on the topic, Shri Pronob  Banerjee, former President of the Association and retired Headmaster  said that  communal forces are trying to  capture the entire school education into their grip  and  called upon the teachers  not to allow the history to be twisted  while teaching in the class.  

A number of teachers, parents and others participated in the discussion on the topic and made valuable suggestions to improve the public education in these islands.  Participants in the discussion expressed concern over the deteriorating standard of education and suggested that the Administration should take immediate steps to improve the Primary Education.   Participants also expressed concern that students who come to the Middle Classes after completion of their Primary education, is unable to read and write properly. A few teachers who participated in the discussion explained the challenges faced by them in their service.  A parent Shri Sreedharan, Office Superintendent under the Administration, through an instantly composed couplet recalled his school days and narrated the lack of facilities prevailed in the islands 40 years ago and still the standard of students was high as compared to now.         

Summing up the discussion on the topic, Shri D. Ayyappan, General Secretary of the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association explained in brief the various reasons for the fall in the standard in school education and expressed concern that students belonging to the poorer sections still lack uniform, textbooks, note books and other facilities and called upon the Administration to take urgent measures to improve the level of standard of the students in the Primary and Middle classes.   The suggestions and opinion expressed in the Seminar will be consolidated and submitted to the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.  Shri SL Vinjit, Joint Secretary, South Andaman Teachers’ Branch, who was the Moderator of the Seminar, stressed upon the importance of Pre-Primary teaching in the schools of govt. sector and to post regular Pre-Primary teachers.

          Teachers, parents and others participated in the Seminar. The Seminar was conducted as part of the ongoing Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association.