How do we inspire the best and brightest to become educators?

Honoured to be a part of Top Global Teachers Bloggers 2016.

This month's theme, “ways to inspire the best and brightest to become educators” is close to my heart. I am into teaching profession from past 20 years. I have realised that there is scarcity of passionate and great teachers. It is a matter of great concern.

Education is the solution to all challenges around us. Through right education, we can overcome difficult situations and challenges of life. Education empower people to live their life with contentment and happiness.

Now, who imparts the education? It is the educator, a teacher, a guide or a facilitator who ignites the mind and kindles spark to enlighten the mind. Teachers play a pivotal role in the development of Nation. We live in a global family. Impact of teachers is not just restricted to a single nation but its reach is worldwide.

Guru Devo Bhav means Guru is like God. Right from kindergarten till the age we keep learning we come across teachers who enlighten our mind. A mediocre teacher teaches, a good teacher demonstrates and a great teacher inspires.

We as educators should own the responsibility of carrying forward this baton to best and brightest. Teaching needs to attract the best of lot to impart further education. We need passionate, enthusiastic and innovative teachers having extraordinary skills to engage different types of learners and cater to needs of diverse learners. Teaching in 21st century is no longer based on replicating textbooks knowledge on the chalkboard.

Best and brightest students do not want to join teaching. What is the reason behind it? How to inspire the best lot to become educators?

Inspiring young generation- Teachers get an opportunity to connect with young minds and make a difference. By teaching one grows and evolves as a better person. Teaching is a noble profession. It has limitless possibilities of experimentation and action research. The teacher plays a major role in shaping the society. While teaching in the classroom, a teacher can inspire masses to carry forward the baton of creating sparks in young minds by sharing stories and anecdotes of great teachers and educators.

I still remember the day, when I received best e teacher award from Late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India. In his inaugural address, he remembered his teacher who inspired him. He himself liked to be remembered as a teacher. When he became the President in 2002, he made no compromise on his passion for teaching. He grabbed every opportunity to teach students, especially children, wherever he went. Administering a pledge on national development to the youth was his passion. “Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, calibre and future of an individual…youth have a dream and also they have a pain. The pain comes out of their dream; they want to live in a prosperous, happy and peaceful India. This type of student’s environment ignites me and leads me to interact with young minds,” he said in the interview.This is the power of a teacher. Role models like him has a great impact on lives of people. Such examples can be shared to inspire the best and brightest to become educators.

Creating respect for teaching profession- Whatever one becomes in life is all because of efforts of teachers. Expressing gratitude to teachers for their selfless commitment should be highlighted in newspapers and magazines. I was reading an education magazine but could not find even a single page on the commendable work done by teachers. There should be a teacher’s page specially dedicated for sharing news about teachers and the type of work done by them. Teachers are source of motivation and encouragement.

Teachers should be well paid and recognised- Teaching is not just a job from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. It is a time consuming job even after regular school hours. Teachers prepare assignments, do corrections and work at home for preparing lesson plans. Teachers take up online self professional development from home. There should be incentives for teachers who do extraordinary work. Teachers can be given a subsidised internet connection to work from home and remain connected with students through their blogs/wikis/online classrooms.

Awards/Recognition/increments can be one of the way to motivate teachers. MHRD, Government of India has launched National ICT Award for teachers who are using technology in an innovative way. There is National Award for teachers who have successfully taught for 20 years and have contributed richly in their teaching learning journey.

Flexibility to teachers to experiment and innovate- Teachers are bound by rigid curriculum, completion of syllabus, deadlines, record keeping, doing lots of manual work which has killed creativity and a scope for creative activities and action research. There should be a flexibility given to teachers to design curriculum, choose activities to innovate. This will open the doors to attract bright students to join the profession.

I would like to say that if you are a teacher you get a chance to celebrate uniqueness of every child. Become a teacher and impact lives.

Glad to be a teacher.