MOHAMMAD ASHRAF KHAN
A teacher has a pivotal role to play in the society. The whole system of education revolves round a teacher. The manufacturer of other professions is a teacher. It is the teacher who takes a person from darkness to enlightment. It is he who neglects himself for the betterment of others. It is due to selflessness of the teacher that great men of this word owe their greatness to their teachers. It is the teacher who shapes the future of nation. The great nations revere their nation builders (teachers) as they know they are real architects of prosperous and developed nations.
In year 2001-02 a scheme was launched by central government in J&K in collaboration with state government known as SSA (Sarva Shiksh Abiyaan).The scheme was launched with the aim to ensure 100% enrollment and compulsory education for all, who fall in age group 6 to 14 in rural and urban areas so that the underprivileged should get access to education and disparity in this regard should be curbed. In order to implement this scheme new schools were opened and existing ones were upgraded at the desired places. Also educated man power was hired to achieve the desired targets of the aforementioned scheme. The teachers who were engaged under this scheme are popularly known as SSA teachers. The minimum qualification for this engagement was kept plus two (+2) and which was at par with the prescribed qualification by SSRB for selection of teachers at that time. Subsequently many teachers were engaged in different schools on a meager honorarium of rupees 1500 for five years and later on they were confirmed as regular teachers. On sensing the job security many youths left their studies midway while studying in colleges and universities and got engaged themselves as SSA teachers .The SSA teachers at the time of engagement hoped for a good and secured future but later on it proved for them a nightmare which still haunts them in different forms.
These (SSA Teachers) are being labeled as dead wood. They have been made to undergo numerous trials and tribulations. On several times their documents particularly those pertaining to their qualification were scrutinized and this scrutinization reflected zero percent fake degree/diploma obtained by these ill fated teachers. Apart from this the society in general and unemployed youth in particular considers them as pests on the state exchequer. They are being taunted and humiliated through different means and methods. They are considered as if they are square peg in a round hole. Even they are deemed as if they are low qualified chunk of the educational system.
The media outlets gave it a great hype that a teacher(RET) as a respondent in a court was unable to putdown few lines on the topic “ The Cow” .But it was not the hallmark that all teachers recruited through SSA are worth less and mediocre for teaching profession. With a few instances we cannot paint all with the same brush. There is a great chunk of SSA teachers who do possess masters degree in different disciplines. Some even are NET/SET qualified. Some even have low qualifications but are highly skilled in teaching profession.
There is no denying that some entrants in the teaching profession do possess low qualification as desired by the modern teaching pedagogy but these loopholes can be plugged in. The teachers who are required to get their academic qualifications enhanced must be given chances to enhance their qualifications through private or distance mode of education of colleges and universities. Apart from this the capacity building programmes must be organized so that teachers may be equipped with new methodologies as desired by the modern educational system. The SCERT and DIET institutions need to remain instrumental in sharpening the teaching skills among all teachers in general and in low qualified in particular.
It merits to mention here that the society as a whole needs to change its perception regarding SSA teachers .The society must remain indebted to their contributions. They even rendered their services in Covid-19 pandemic, in centre and state elections, in panchayat elections and what not. These teachers not only revitalized the education sector of the state but also provided it new heights through their zeal and enthusiasm. They kindled the candle of education in remotest areas of the state by opening the rusted locks of schools. Hence they deserve a big salute .The practice of sowing seeds of prejudice and bigotry for a particular teacher community must be abolished. They have to be given a due regard and respect. It is high time to reboot the confidence of this fraternity. The different tags which are being given to them have to be curbed. The contribution of these teachers must be appreciated by the concerned. They must be rewarded for their selfless services.
Writer can be reached at khanmohdashraf990@gmail.com
