Dr Asangba Tzudir
Teachers as educators hold a very responsible and indispensable position in moulding the society. They have been acclaimed for their selfless service having recognised the nobility of the profession as a teacher. Today, in the evolution of times, the profession of teaching has become very challenging in order to meet the demands of the of the ‘new generation’ students. In context, a very pertinent question arises, what should a teacher teach a student? Yes, what should a teacher teach, when almost everything under the earth is accessible through the internet? Today, mobile phones seem to have become the first language of children. It is already in their hands and being operated even before a child learns to speak one’s mother tongue. The courses/lessons are flashed in an instant google is tasked to it. YouTube and the like provide the tutorials for easy and quick learning. And now with Chatbots, it has taken learning to another dimension by allowing humans to interact with digital devices like communicating with a real person.
The task of teaching and making the students learn something new is only going to become more challenging in the face of all the emerging trends. In context our State continues to reel under the problem of teacher shortage in schools besides the other equally pressing concerns that has kept many teachers aggrieved. This is also attested by the current 178 legal cases against the School Education department. Advisor for School Education Dr Kekhrie Yhome’s remark while addressing a press conference requires a serious reflection - “Professionally we have not taken care of our teachers. So today, I must confess that we are very sorry for our teachers.” There is an air of optimism in the Advisor’s remark, and being an educationist himself, the School Education department will hopefully deliver. Higher Education department is no exception and faces the same problem besides other complex issues. In the face of the emerging challenges to teaching and learning, the State cannot remain callous to the stagnating problems of the day.
The teaching learning process is conditional and restrained by factors that really disturb the conscience of many aggrieved teachers which comes in the way of quality delivery aspects. Delivering quality education has remained a paramount challenge; however, a larger concern is on the aspect of delivering learning. Reproducing knowledge alone is not going to satisfy the thirst of many students unless something profound is fed into their minds wherein their minds can truly experience learning, and which they can put to practical use to enhance life and make a living out of it.
Another challenge for the teacher in the face of the newer ways, forms and sources of learning is to motivate, inspire and unlock the potentials of each student in finding their career paths. Nonetheless, it is also very important that education is not simply about landing them in a job, but it should help realise the value of being a human. That, education and learning should help enable a student to become better humans. One can be educated but still uncivilized. Thus, what is needed today is educated and civilized people so that our society becomes a better place to live.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
