Degrees for Success

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.