A teacher is defined as a nation builder or a person who moulds our character, develops our personality, and shows us the right direction. Every definition for teacher bestows regard to him, and to his profession.
In the same context, on December 9 of 2015 the education department moved a proposal for “enhancing and restoring the dignity” of teachers by including the fraternity in J&K warrant of protocols. The then director school education Kashmir Dr. Shah Faesal had written to the state government for inclusion of teacher fraternity in “Warrant of Precedence”. The aim, as per the proposal, was to grant VIP status to the teaching community to give them the deserved respect and elevate their status.
The director of school education, Kashmir, had sent the proposal to the J&K government, arguing that the move will “restore and enhance the dignity” of teacher fraternity which will “fundamentally change” the outlook of teachers in the society.
Besides mooting a proposal to grant VIP status to the teachers including teachers, masters, lecturers and principals, the director had also instructed its clerical staff in the directorate to address teachers with ‘sir’ and offer a ‘chair’ to them during their visit to the directorate in Srinagar. Probably, same instructions were given to clerical staff in zonal and chief education offices.
But, all these proposals and intentions to enhance the dignity of a teacher were shown the door when the same teacher in less than a year later was “reduced to the position of chowkidar (guard)” in Kashmir.
Nobody knew what happened to the proposal of granting VIP status to teachers, but in education department issued proper orders and asked these teachers to guard schools during day as well as night, along with chowkidars. The orders were issued when Kashmir witnessed a 5 month long unrest in 2016 which resulted in torching of 32 schools in Kashmir by arsonist.
Similarly, a year later, the same teacher was forced to rub his forehead on his spit on 14 December 2017 just because he had asked his colleague to teach students in school during winter tutorial programme. Forcing a teacher to rub his forehead on spit triggered a protest in various parts but the officer who did it, is yet to put to task.
The incident created a debate all over Kashmir and even students in Nizam College (autonomous) of Hyderabad staged protest in solidarity with the teacher who was humiliated by the officer. The incident was taken as an insult to the whole teaching fraternity, our state and nation as well.
Interestingly, while the issue of humiliating a teacher was yet to settle down, the higher secondary principals were rebuked, insulted and looked down upon by a senior bureaucrat who is holding position a hig position in higher education department. He was attending a workshop on Prime Ministers Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) at SKICC. In the workshop, he rebuked a school principal.
Not only this, another principal was asked whether he possesses an ATM or not. The officer didn’t stop here, but also insulted a teacher after he tried to read out some text from a pamphlet. The officer made a taunt, telling the teacher that he was just copying. Also, a nodal Principal Jammu college was insulted when he was asked to stand near the stage of the hall and tell everyone in the meeting that he is the nodal principal.
All these incidents happened in a high level meeting which was convened to review implementation of PMSSS. The meeting was attended by AICTE and UGC representatives who were given great respect by the host.
The present dispensation from past three years claims to restore the dignity and honor of the teaching community and give them recognition. But on the other hand the teachers are being humiliated every now and then. The government claims of restoring dignity of teachers got exposed in the series of incidents wherein teachers were insulted and looked down upon.
One feels that we have ceased to be respectful to teachers . We forget that teaching is a profession that guides all the other professions.
Like other nations, we should respect our teachers, as respecting a teacher means respecting your own society, your nation.