Empowering 21st Century Educators: A journey from struggle to triumph

 Empowering 21st Century Educators: A journey from struggle to triumph

By- Deepa Singh

Teacher: A unique species

Teachers, are a unique species, displaying contentment, calmness, collaboration, passion, obedience, straightforwardness, and a fondness for working in groups. They find solace in repetitive tasks and thoroughly enjoy delivering lectures. And, of course, their fondness for tea knows no bounds, which is one of my favorites too. The qualities of a good teacher are so social and civilized. Still, teachers often face challenges to their dignity, value, and honor. They encounter constant intimidations to their existence from society and individuals, which leads to concerns about their image. 

On another occasion, an acquaintance visited my home and initiated a conversation with the remark, ‘teachero ko to roz ek he kaam karna h...’, Perhaps the person was alluding to the repetitive nature of teaching.

The person might be unaware of the fact that repetition is in nature 🌿 everywhere, we should respect and celebrate the beauty of recurring patterns in nature and life. ‘In the rhythm of raindrops, in the dance of leaves, Repetition weaves its magic-A comforting tapestry.’ All my dear teachers be proud of your repetitive nature!

Qualms: Being a teacher

Sarcastic remarks like the one above contribute to the underappreciation of teachers in society, often causing many educators to enter this profession by chance, not by choice. A growing number of teachers are not satisfied with their jobs and a large majority are planning to leave the profession.

The invasion of online education lowered and underscored the importance and value of teachers in society. This scenario has given birth to a new debate, Will AI replace the teachers?

The inherent beauty of the teaching profession, particularly in schools, seems to have faded amidst rigid, unclear, and incomplete government regulations, bylaws, and unrealistic societal expectations.

Most of the teachers feel stressed due to administrative demands, rigid policies, and beyond the clouds expectations. Overcrowded classrooms, lack of resources, inadequate facilities, no liberty at creativity, and the most important low salary are some contributors in job dissatisfaction. As previously mentioned, disrespect and feeling of undervalued contribute to dislike their job.

Teachers’ responsibilities extend from managing accounts to overseeing transportation and even from classrooms to washrooms.

Teachers frequently voice their dissatisfaction regarding the lack of adequate professional and work-related information. Over time, this collective mindset creates an environment, where educators become narrowly focused on immediate challenges, unable to see beyond their current situations. This issue can significantly impact their effectiveness in the classroom and overall job satisfaction. To address this concern, educational institutions and policymakers introduce new educational policies and updated teaching learning strategies.

A brave heart

Only, a teacher possesses remarkable magnanimity; enduring all the criticism from management, administration, students, and parents, all while striving to serve for the welfare of his students and society. Even in today’s world, everyone looks up to a teacher as a role model and parents expect a teacher to carve out their ward’s personality by the latter’s active involvement.  

Being one of the education stakeholders, a teacher needs to keep himself updated, content, passionate, goal oriented and achieving heights in career, while experiencing those priceless “AHA” moments of the students, when they grasp new concepts.

A well informed and equipped teacher can create future leaders in classrooms. Staying informed about new policies and changes in the education sector is crucial for a teacher’s personal and professional growth.

21st Century Skills

Let's talk 21st century educators and skills.  While educators remain Homo sapiens, their roles and responsibilities have indeed evolved significantly as below.

• 4Cs: Critical Thinking, Creativity & Innovation, Collaboration, Communication

• IMT: Information Literacy, Media Literacy, Technology Literacy

• FLIPS: Flexibility and Adaptability, Leadership and Responsibility, Initiative and Self-Direction, Social and Cross-Cultural Interaction

Undoubtedly, the educators possessing the aforementioned skills are poised for success.

CBSE Handbook for Teachers: A Valuable Resource

During my preparation for a workshop presentation, I came across the CBSE Handbook for teachers. Reflecting on it, I realized that studying this handbook earlier would have greatly benefited me as an educator. The CBSE Handbook for Teachers comprehensively covers various aspects related to teaching-learning process. It includes everything from defining a teacher’s role to understanding responsibilities, student interactions, curriculum, subject knowledge, and effective pedagogy. As an essential resource, this handbook equips teachers with valuable information, on the following points, to enhance the educational practice and impact on students’ learning journeys.

·       Appointment and Qualification

·       Terms of service

·       Roles & Responsibilities,

·       School Infrastructure

·       School Management Committee

·       Inspection Requirements

·       Record Maintenance

·       Teacher self-evaluation framework

·       Board Examinations and Teacher’s Responsibilities

·       Use of Technology

·       Disaster Management procedures to be followed

·       Awards that Teacher may Apply for

·       CBSE Policies

·       Teacher’s training

·       21st Century Skills

·       Responsibilities towards students

·       Teacher and parents

·       Use of Cellphone in Classroom

Dive into its pages, discover strategies, policies, and pathways. CBSE handbook for Teachers Link:https://pdflink.to/efb6e048/

Some key aspects to guide a teacher on this meaningful journey:

·                Stay curious and continue learning.

·                Understand your students’ experiences and emotions.

·                Adaptability and Flexibility: Be open-minded and willing to adapt to changes.

·                Resilience and Perseverance: Remember that setbacks are opportunities for             growth.

·                Be a role model for integrity, kindness, and hard work

·                Self-Care and Well-Being

Whether someone is a novice or an experienced teacher, the points mentioned above can be beneficial. After all, learning is a lifelong process. By embracing resources like the CBSE Handbook, you empower yourself to create a lasting impact on your students’ lives.

Please comment your opinion.

Source: CBSE Handbook of Teachers, 21st Century Skills A Handbook, Personal views

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