Recently, there was a very critical and a rather stern article in the Udayavani (a local kannada newspaper of the Manipal group) regarding the declining quality of education in Manipal University. The article by a very eminent educationist has caused a lot of speculation amongst the students of Manipal along with their parents, with regards to the quality of education in this very prestigious institute.
‘Manipal University is also called as the Harvard of the east. Does it mirror the reality?’. This is one the many lines in that article which has caused a fall in the reputation of this University. Other points which were made in that article mostly blamed the teaching staff for the constant fall in the quality of students that pass out every year. ‘I would request the authorities of the Manipal Universities to make the teachers earn their salary’ said the article.
And it looks like one of the officials has indeed looked upon this issue with extreme seriousness. In an internal circular issued from the registrars office this morning (which we managed to get hold of) there are some stunning across the board changes, which is causing some heartburn to the teaching staff. I was stunned and happy at the same time because finally the teachers would get a taste of their own medicine.
 |
| Tense Manipal University teachers at a meeting to discuss the sweeping educational reforms |
“Weekly assignments and tri-monthly examinations for all the teachers of the Manipal University” was the top heading in that circular. The reasons stated for this ‘drastic’ action were given along with the various clauses. The top most reason which I could make out was the rapid increment in the lack of discipline inside the classroom in the past decade. The introduction of projectors has made teaching a child’s play for the staff. ‘Even my 15 year son could do that’ said the critical article.
The reactions of the student were diverse yet united. ‘This will bring equity when it will come to the student teacher relationship’ said a jubilant Lalith Nag, an MIT student.
‘This had to happen. I am surprised this came so late’ said Vrinda, a student of MCOPS.
One of the students started running away from us when we told him of the news. When we asked him, the excited student said something which sounded like ‘Deetee’.
Everyone has been congratulating the educationist on his phenomenal achievement. “The power of my pen can still shake the very basic foundation of the education system”, said the educationist, with an air of arrogance. “Today Manipal University has shown that it has the potential to be the Harvard of the east”, he added.
This step has gathered nationwide attention and will be broadcasted in various channels. CNN IBM will be interviewing the writer of that article. Do not miss it! Our University is in the news for a revolutionary change.
Oh! Did I forget to tell you the name of the educationist? His name is Mr. Fake Chand. Go and have a blast!
teachers should also face the hardships that we face and through that we could get the best faculty out
Accountability always helps…and having a measuring rod definitely does.
My reasoning is straight and simple, there should be Entrance Exams for Faculties of Engg and Medical at the least!
An awesome article Tanmay! This is actually a pressing problem across the country!
The main problem is that right now all the colleges are having trouble finding good faculty because most of the good engineers go for job, and the rest also look for some industrial job. Not many people really want to be teachers (do I need to explain why? ).
Therefore, for the time being most of the colleges (except IIT, BITS, AIIMS etc.) have adopted a "take what you can get" strategy. There's simply no choice because quite a significant amount of engineering faculty will fail any test given to them. And if they are let go, colleges will be left with vastly insufficient faculty.
Therefore, at least till standards improve, the colleges have adopted a "take what you get" approach to hiring of faculty……
This will always be a problem with professional courses, you cannot do much about it but hope that the situation improves with time.
Well in my opinion this shouldn't be a faking news. Because comparing the faculty of today and the past years lot of difference have been noticed. Today the well qualified teachers are less available and new staff even don't have that much of knowledge. Result is students suffer at last.
delhi govt has started an teacher eligibilty test , candidate must clear it to teach in a delhi schoool from this year , 70% of the candidates failed!!
@anonymous1: That was the whole idea! 🙂 🙂
@Teachmaniak: UGC has already set up an exam for the PhD aspirants instead of an RDC! Hope dis trend continues! 🙂
@Vishaal: Thanks! 🙂 As a student I respect my teachers but there is always an scope for improvement for us and also for the teachers.
@anonymous2: I agree! As Vishaal has said, teaching is not considered as a career by the majority of students! This should change..!
@Jatin: 🙂 Thnx for d comment!
@Mohit: OMG! If dis is the situation then it is high time that d govt. takes some strict steps!
teachers need to be assessed on whether or not their students are learning.
Simple to answer, perhaps, but much harder to do. Or is it? Walk into any classroom and what do you see? Are hands eagerly up eagerly, or are heads resignedly down? Are answers and suppositions flying back and forth, or only spitballs? And is the little girl scribbling furiously in her notebook there in the corner responding with passion to the lesson, or is she simply preparing to pass a note about a birthday party to a friend across the class? Most of us would agree that if children are engaged in their own learning, then they are more likely to be learning. Student engagement is only one observable indicator of whether or not students are learning in a teacher’s class, and there are others. Does the teacher know his subject well and focus the material on state standards?
As a nation we spend hundreds of billions of dollars each year on teacher salaries, benefits, and professional development, but do very little to ensure that we attract, prepare, support, and retain effective teachers who help students to make the most progress, and remove those who do not improve.
1. Unless evaluating teachers includes evaluating the conditions under which they work, it is of little value for improving professional practice.
2. Teachers need to be at center of the evaluation process in both its design and implementation.
@anonymous1: true! I agree wid it completely! 🙂 dis is evryday experience…I njoy some classes nd I learn in dem…I feel sleepy in some nd d joy flies out of the window!
@anonymous2: Dat is correct! We need to have a parallel system for a 'check-up' from time to time!
@concerned teacher: 1. Well on the larger context I agree! Bt I dnt thnk manipal teachers have ny problems as far as their 'conditions' are concerned. Pardon me if I am wrong.
2. Agree totally 🙂
Brilliant article!
This is as much true as it is fake. The institution should ensure the students of the teachers competency.
@Lalith: Thanx! 🙂 Dat is true!