#1 The Acharya Devo Bhava attitude
I believe it is very unfair to just give any elder, teacher or parent the designation of God.
It is time that we understand that just being senior in age, experience or status does NOT cause their every word to be true, as is supposed to be with God. (Let’s not digress here and dive into debatable issues like existence of God and all). This outlook gives to these seniors (teachers included) a lawful right to overlook their scope of improvement and command their juniors (students in the case of teachers).
Let us realize that anybody can become a ‘teacher’ and most of them would not be intelligent enough to understand the responsibilities that come with this profession and the belief Acharya Devo Bhava or any form of it makes them feel powerful and that, is a dangerous situation. It can lead to them not encouraging students to ask questions to more serious issues like corporal punishment beyond acceptable measures.
Expanding on the “not encouraging students to ask questions”, it happens even in the most prestigious colleges of the country, let alone other educational institutes and universities. Rahul Gandhi has stated, “When I was studying at St Stephen’s College, asking a question was not perceived to be good in our class. You were looked down upon if you asked too many questions.” And
we have seen some portions of the same in 3 Idiots and read it in Five Point Someone.
So, the stance that teachers are God for students is tremendously wrong. Just like that aphorism Respect is not demanded but commanded I think it should be tailored to something like Devo Bhava repute is not demanded but commanded. The teachers should be told that theirs is a tough and a job of responsibility.
#2 Score, Forrest, Score.
Are you that good?
Mass recruiting companies have eligibility criteria of over 70% in +2 and among top 10% in class to write their exam. This steers the whole system and the students to focus on scoring top marks in examinations. It inhibits creativity and proper learning.
IIM’s have introduced a rule where those who couldn’t manage 70% or more marks in their senior school certificate or higher secondary school certificate would not be allowed into its hallowed portals regardless of their CAT scores. Let’s analyze this. A student doesn’t do well in the senior school and so s/he cannot be a worthy manager by IIM standards? Low percentage in +2 and good managerial/entrepreneurial skills are NOT mutually exclusive.
#3 Politicization of education
And so we have reservations for the SCs, STs and the OBCs who have excellently sound financial background with their reservation percentage been raised to 49.5% in the central government funded higher education institutes. We have tailored history books with more light thrown to a certain religion or sect. We have certain languages being pressed into the curriculum because they keep alive our Indian culture and differentiate us from the west. Need I say more?
These are just 3 of many, many reasons. Please comment and share with us, if you know of any other reason.
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Nice post. but there could be more reasons as well not only three. Like, importance given only to cramming for exams, students not willing to learn etc.
Thanks for the appreciation. Yeah there are many reasons but almost all of them could be broken down into these 3 major reasons. Come up with more in comments..
Whatever you like to say, but those who give you birth, bring you to life are certainly god like. Parents are GOD. You can’t deny that.
God by definition is someone who is the creator of all – the universe, the mankind, the living beings, everything. Parents are extremely respectable and great. But they are not God. God, is a very strong concept. Think about it!
I agree with your last point only. Opportunities should be given to those belonging to such sections of the society so that they come up to the mark. Reservations can never help.
Questions on the concept ‘acharya devo bhav’ are coming up just because the teachers lifestyles are changing. When the teachers were giving their life for education of their students the concept was correct. Even otherwise if you allow both sides i.e. students and teachers to question each other, the system cannot work. The concept of ‘acharya devo bhav’ is a well thought principle.
As far as show at higher secondary is concerned, a line has to be drawn for everything. If you donot draw a system how the things will work. Like you say a student who gets 49% is not worse than who gets 50%, but you fail one and pass the other. So you have to accept this.
Parents or teachers are not god, jeez, I was googling around about Indian average IQ and wikipedia says that were below par on average (81 avg IQ). I guess thats why we think everything is god and our roads suck ass and we have poor planning and “were very religious”. Many nations that lack religion score high on the IQ index. This has lead me to believe, religiousness is inversely proportional to intelligence, (exceptions are there everywhere)
Hey Dude, great observation! It is true that orthodox, backward and unintellectual people are extremely religious. They lack the power to question anything and just live on what they have been fed.
True, the Indian education system is still pretty backward but people are coming up with new ideas like Teach for India n all,..complete transformation of our education system might take time, but the effort should be recognized,..don’t u think?
Hi Priya. You’re right. Ideas like ‘Teach for India’ and ‘Each one teach one’ will bring in a complete transformation to the education system of India. But I think they are aimed and can only aim at primary education, you know, like improving the literacy rate of India. They don’t have control over higher education. That is sad..