Open house: What should the govt do to implement educational reforms, including hiring of teachers?

Improve skills for better opportunities

Educational reforms are crucial in addressing the issue of drugs and crime in Punjab. Increased access to quality education through initiatives such as smart schools can help keep more children and adolescents in schools. Vocational training and programmes like Punjab Skill Development Mission are essential for youngsters to get better employment opportunities, steering them away from illegal activities. Schools have incorporated drug awareness campaigns in their curriculum to educate students about the dangers of drug abuse and guide them on how to seek help if needed. Counselling services have been introduced in many schools to provide early intervention and support. Furthermore, involving parents and the community in educational activities helps create a supportive environment for students and assists in monitoring and guiding them. Encouraging participation in sports, social service and other extracurricular activities also helps students channel their energy positively and reduces the risk of them engaging in drug abuse or criminal activities. All this needs fewer holidays to engage the students and make the learning process more interesting. Additionally, hiring more qualified and skilled teachers is essential for improving the quality of education and addressing teacher shortages. Newly hired teachers should be supported through induction programmes and professional development opportunities to help them adapt to their roles and improve their teaching skills. Short-term teachers’ training programme in foreign countries like Singapore and Finland can enhance teachers’ skills, exposing them to modern teaching techniques, leadership roles, curriculum development and technology integration. This can help adapt new perspectives and new innovative practices in the local context leading to better learning outcomes.

Kulwant Singh Phull

Peer pressure can have adverse effects

Drug addiction among the youth is a major concern globally, including India. The alarming rise in addiction among the youngsters is a matter of concern. The main cause of addiction is increasing stress among youngsters regarding achieving of targets set by their parents and coaching institutes. Both parents are working nowadays and kids are with their house helps, spending idle time on social media grabbing unwanted information which only makes them more curious. Peer pressure is one of the causes for indulging in these addictions. Drug dependence is causing harm to physical and mental health, leading to academic decline, increasing crime and violence. To curb the drug menace, educational and awareness programmes in schools should be undertaken. The parents should communicate more with children. Zero periods in schools can be used to discuss the harms of drug addiction. Like early dinner is good for the improvement of physical health, similarly early switching off from social media can lead to more family interaction, leading to deep and peaceful sleep further leading to better performance the next day. Lifestyle modification is required not only in terms of physical health but mental health also in the form of yoga, meditation and intermittent fasting by abstaining from social media.

Dr Renu Verma

Technical education can land jobs

Schools are the temples of education which tailor the future of the students to various streams like medicine, engineering, science research, business and other professions. The government always endorses and highlights that they have made a radical change in educational institutes and the number of students is increasing in government aided schools or government schools. When the country achieved independence, the number of private schools and colleges was limited. At that time, the students used to get educated in government schools and touched heights in their lives. The debate is over severe staff crunch in schools. The need of time is to generate employment opportunities in government schools and appoint and enroll new teachers through proper channel so that the students or youngsters refrain from falling prey to the menace of drugs and crime. If the students go for their education in schools, certainly they will refrain from anti-social activities. As in the present arena, technical education to the students is a must so that they can stand on their own feet if they fail to secure any job. If they are technically qualified, they will certainly earn their bread and butter on their own instead of relying on others. The government should also keep the proposal open for hiring experienced teachers on a temporary basis to give proper education to the students for their bright future.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Schools should have adequate staff

Notably, more teachers are posted in city government schools than the actual requirement, while schools in a majority of the villages are facing staff crunch. The condition of schools located in remote areas is even more pathetic as they not only lack basic facilities, some don’t have even a single teacher for months together. Eventually, the youngsters due to lack of guidance are falling prey to the menace of drugs and rising crime. Earlier, to resolve the problem of inequilibrium of staff at schools, rationalisation of teachers or transfer policy was envisaged by the last regime. However, it has been rendered ineffective as those transferred managed to get their posting changed or cancelled due to political connections or bureaucratic favour. The AAP government on coming to power avowed to recruit more teachers and allied staff, besides arranging for facilities like clean water and washrooms in all government schools. Alongside, an initiative has been taken to build smart schools and open Schools of Eminence, but a lot more needs to be done to provide quality education. All schools should have adequate staff to cater to the needs of modern education, while those located in close vicinity having a marginal strength should be shut down and students shifted to adjoining schools with good infrastructure. In consultation with the representatives of teachers, a transparent and equitable transfer policy is required to be drafted and implemented fairly, leaving no room for grievances or undue favours. Instantly, the government may hire teachers till permanent recruitments are finalied, so that the students do not suffer due to lack of teachers’ attention and get tempted toward heinous activities at a vulnerable age. On top of it all, educational reforms should be accorded utmost priority amongst the issues of good governance

by the state.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Cut down syllabus, teach right content

The government should take the following three steps for educational reforms. First of all, there are so many unemployed teachers in state. So, vacancies in schools of Punjab should be increased and teachers hired. This will serve a dual purpose as the unemployed teachers will get employment and students will get teachers for guidance. Secondly, in order to resolve the crisis, preference should be given to teachers who can impart conceptual education to children. Thirdly, educational reforms need to be undertaken, by cutting down vast syllabus and including in books only those contents which are essential for students to secure jobs after they complete their education.

Sanjay Chawla

Student teachers can solve problems

Over the years, the drug problem has plagued Punjab, transforming it from a mere transit point on the route to a significant consumer base. Studies have shown that young people and adolescents continued to fall victim to drug abuse even during the current regime in Punjab. This has raised question marks over the reliability and efficiency of the AAP government. This devastation is largely because of lack of tutors and mentors in the state, especially in the teaching field. However, no matter how big and complex the problem looks, if some steps are followed perfectly and cautiously, any conflict can be resolved. Some of the ways to do so include appointing student teachers. Every coin has two sides. On the one hand, most individuals indulge in drug-related activities and on the other, many future leaders and the backbone of a new and zestful Punjab are also youths. Nowadays, many teenagers are actively taking part in making Punjab a better place whether it is sports or art and music. These individuals can be appointed as student teachers that can solve many problems such as unemployment and lack of teachers. Moreover, they can better understand the other half of the young masses who are stuck in the mess of drug rackets and have become a product. These student teachers can prove to be a role model for others, inspiring them to walk in the footsteps of teachers and change their lives. In addition to this, there are many things that the masses might not feel comfortable sharing with anyone else except their age mates. The student teachers can provide good company to those who are lost and for sure have the potential to cure them. If this theory becomes a reality, Punjab can become a better place again.

Lakshit Jindal

Government not serious about recruitment

Schools in Punjab are facing a severe shortage of teachers. Almost 40,000 posts are vacant at present. Teachers are sitting on protest to get their problem resolved, but to no avail. Governments change after every five years, but the problem of recruitment of teachers is not being solved. State governments are not serious about the recruitment of teachers. Every party claims it will hold PSTET (Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test) every year when it is in opposition in the assembly. The same party leaders, after becoming ministers, forget the problems of teachers. The state government should solve the problem of teachers’ recruitment so that 28 lakh students can take advantage of the schools.

Sucha Singh Sagar

Skilled, updated staff required in schools

Shortage of skilled teachers and proper school buildings, lack of infrastructure like proper road connectivity of schools with rural or urban areas, lack of other educational infrastructure like electricity, drinking water in schools etc are the problems in the education system that we are facing since independence. Education in the government sector still leaves a lot to be desired. People are still not aware about the importance of education, especially in remote villages. The education sector needs significant improvement. No doubt, we need skilled and updated staff but we simultaneously need to change the curriculum. Our education is not linked to market forces. A person who has done his PhD is still unemployed because he doesn’t have the necessary skills as required in the job sector. Hence, youth tend to become drug addicts out of frustration and desperation. Therefore, we need to bring the corporate sector in education that can guide about the required curriculum. A person with an ITI diploma background is likely to have more job options than any highly qualified scholar. The reason is that professional diploma holders can open their work and start earning. Therefore, we need to inculcate entrepreneurship in our education system instead of blaming any government. Hence, students who have received education and are still unemployed should try to explore options like starting their own YouTube educational channels, instead of relying on government jobs. Further, the government too needs to bring reforms in the education sector and provide the required infrastructure which is very much needed in the education sector.

Harvinder Singh Chugh