10 Reasons Why India Needs To Reclaim Its Teachers

The most recent reports including the UNESCO-Education for All 2014 and ASER have all painted a grim picture of the state of primary education in the country. Among the many reasons cited, the lack of well trained and motivated teachers seems to be the most critical to the dismal education scene in India.

Akshara Foundation reached out to 10 people from all walks of life who gave 10 reasons on why we need to elevate the status of the teaching profession in India.

1. Ashwini Ponnappa

Indian shuttler and silver winner at the Commonwealth Games 2014 in Glasgow.

 

2. Usha Vishwanath

At the age of 80, Usha is an active social worker

 

3. Vasundhara Das

Vasundhara is an Indian singer, actress, composer, entrepreneur, speaker, songwriter and environmental activist.

 

4. Saad Khan

Saad is an Indian film director, screenwriter and acting teacher.

 

5. Vikram  Nalagampalli

Vikram founded a portal that bridges the gap between voters and electoral candidates.

 

6. MJ Pijosh

Music Jockey from Radio One.

 

7. Amin

Amin is a student at Seva Bharat Trust Govt Schools, Vivek Nagar and recently participated in the All India Robot Olympiad.

 

8. Aarti Mohan

Aarti is the Chief Editor at an online magazine in India.

 

9. Chef Manu Chandra

Partner at The Fatty Bao & Monkey Bar and Executive Chef Olive Beach.

 

10. Bhavana Rajendran

Bhavana  is a social development researcher and an exceptional theatre artiste.

Each of these pithily drafted points pay a humble tribute to the spirit of pedagogy, to the warrior who fights the societal battle all alone in a classroom with bare walls, rickety benches, chipped blackboards and children who have little but a spirit to break through the innumerable barriers.

A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others ~Mustafa