Let us begin by sharing some recent
experiences.
Just a few days ago we
came across a flyer to introduce a new preschool in the locality. ‘A preschool
managed by IIT and IIM alumni’ it said.
A company that has
developed curriculum for schools proudly claims on its website that the lesson
plans are scripted by IIT graduates.
As a part of our initiatives for social
responsibility Inspire has been in conversation with senior officers in the
state education department for piloting a program for enhancing children’s
English language capabilities. We were informed that many similar interventions
have already been conducted by IIT students.
This has set us
thinking. We, at Inspire, believe that IIT’s and IIM’s are centers for academic
excellence. They set benchmarks to assess the standards and practices in other
educational institutions in our country. The qualification and commitment of
the staff, the caliber and effort put in by students and opportunities for
interaction with the real industry ensure that students who graduate are
committed, socially aware professionals with zeal to excel in the field of
their choice.
However, the moot
question here is that can an IIT degree guarantee that the individual will be a
good teacher or administrator for a school or a preschool. If a person excels
in math and science and has been able to ace the most competitive entrance
exam, will s/he necessarily be an excellent teacher. Will s/he be able to
automatically communicate the understanding and interest in the subjects to a
class of forty students?
Teaching is a science
and art. A teacher needs in-depth understanding and conceptual clarity in the
subject s/he teaches. But at the same time teaching requires an understanding
of children’s psyche and development. A
teacher needs to skilled in the art of coaxing and cajoling children,
heightening interest in the subject by piquing
their curiosity, building up suspense by introducing an element of drama
and planning for small successes to keep them motivated. A teacher has to be
skilled at class room management and differentiated learning. S/he should be
able to identify different learning styles, skills and interests in children
and accommodate these differences in planning for learning and assessment.
The art of teaching is
learnt through actual classroom experiences. Like any skill it is built up
through practice and hands on learning. Merely having a certain degree does not
guarantee success.
Let us think and
reflect- by using the tags of these premier institutes are education companies
not trying to build up their brand and use the reputation to piggy back to
success.
