Background
The year was 2011, Then in opposition, Ms. Sushma Swaraj attacked Mr. PM, on various corruption scams 'with recitation of an Urdu Couplet' .
"Tu idhar udhar ki Naa Baat kar, Ye Bataa ki kaafila kyun luta,
Hamein Rehzano se gila nahin, teri rahbari ka sawaal hai."
By that time, I was a young undergraduate studying in 2nd year of my B.Sc. What I percieved ahead was dark and bleak prospectus. The obvious reason being that my most important chapter of life i.e PU school, Ist Year of B.Sc had washed down the drain of frequent hartals which lasted for months on the trot from 2008 onwards and secondly my own carelessness vis a vis my career.
Despite the fact that our parents gave us best care, education, tutions, guidance and counselling. Still I felt the negative conjectures vis a vis my career.
I remember in childhood, the school started at 9 o' clock. By 8.30, we had to board the bus. By 8.15, we used to be ready on the bus stop. But before this routine grind, in mornings, we already used to have home tutions from parents and uncles to augment our learning.
Mother used to wake us up at 6 o' clock, Post breakfast, we used to read Quran, followed by English, Urdu, Social Studies and Sciences. At evenings, our Uncle used to teach us Maths. During P.U and CET, we were send to best tution centres in the town and out of stations as well. Those of our classmates whose parents were working in administration or bussinesses had tutors hired for them. Similar has always been the story of every private school kid.
Other side
"Tu idhar udhar ki Naa Baat kar, Ye Bataa ki kaafila kyun luta,
Hamein Rehzano se gila nahin, teri rahbari ka sawaal hai."
By that time, I was a young undergraduate studying in 2nd year of my B.Sc. What I percieved ahead was dark and bleak prospectus. The obvious reason being that my most important chapter of life i.e PU school, Ist Year of B.Sc had washed down the drain of frequent hartals which lasted for months on the trot from 2008 onwards and secondly my own carelessness vis a vis my career.
Despite the fact that our parents gave us best care, education, tutions, guidance and counselling. Still I felt the negative conjectures vis a vis my career.
I remember in childhood, the school started at 9 o' clock. By 8.30, we had to board the bus. By 8.15, we used to be ready on the bus stop. But before this routine grind, in mornings, we already used to have home tutions from parents and uncles to augment our learning.
Mother used to wake us up at 6 o' clock, Post breakfast, we used to read Quran, followed by English, Urdu, Social Studies and Sciences. At evenings, our Uncle used to teach us Maths. During P.U and CET, we were send to best tution centres in the town and out of stations as well. Those of our classmates whose parents were working in administration or bussinesses had tutors hired for them. Similar has always been the story of every private school kid.
Other side
Almost ten years down the memory lane, came september 2020. Me and my friends, in an attempt to escape quarintine, decided to go on a trekking adventure over the weekend. We went to Sheeshnag lake, 23 KM east of Pahalgam. By then, I had joined as a teacher with J&K deptt of Education.
Trekking doesn't need a strong abled physique but determination and never quit attitude. With that attitude, we ascended the Pisshu Top from Chandanwari, then to Sheeshnag. It was a rough experience, atleast dozen a times, we talked about quitting that expedition. Although there was always someone among us who would yell "Log kya Kahay Gy!!"
Anyways, trekking for two day starting from Betaab Valley, with muscles trembling, mouth parched, eyes unable to focus clearly and kind of schizophrenic voices playing inside head due to fatigue, we encountered something near the Sheeshnag lake, which dumbfounded me.
It was a feeble voice which was not playing in head but from external dimension.
The voice spoke,
"Ashlamali Kum Shal."
I turned back and was surprised to see a child namely "Rameez Ahmad Chopan" a 4th standard kid of my school. Remember my school is more than 50 kms away from the spot and we are talking about a spot in middle of nowhere.
At first, I couldn't believe myself. I couldn't imagine a kid or even an elder, whom i know, to be present on such secluded spot which is sorrounded by Himalayan Brown bears, Moon bears, Leopards and Snakes plus the vagaries of nature.
The initial thought that flashed my mind was that it is a hallucination, or a Jinn, or a scene from afterlife, before coming to back to senses.
Upon enquiring, Rameez was there with his elder cousins and were rearing sheep on high altitude Alpine pastures locally called "Bahaks". Yes same Bahakis when moms scold their children for coming late to home and say "Bahaki Asukha!"
Rameez also told me that he has been going there since he was in 2nd standard with his father and stayed there for months and descend back to valley before onset of harsher winter.
Let me use the term "bread earner cum learner" for Rameez. Those kids who study at schools as well as support families financially should be called "Earners cum Learners".
I turned back and was surprised to see a child namely "Rameez Ahmad Chopan" a 4th standard kid of my school. Remember my school is more than 50 kms away from the spot and we are talking about a spot in middle of nowhere.
At first, I couldn't believe myself. I couldn't imagine a kid or even an elder, whom i know, to be present on such secluded spot which is sorrounded by Himalayan Brown bears, Moon bears, Leopards and Snakes plus the vagaries of nature.
The initial thought that flashed my mind was that it is a hallucination, or a Jinn, or a scene from afterlife, before coming to back to senses.
Upon enquiring, Rameez was there with his elder cousins and were rearing sheep on high altitude Alpine pastures locally called "Bahaks". Yes same Bahakis when moms scold their children for coming late to home and say "Bahaki Asukha!"
Rameez also told me that he has been going there since he was in 2nd standard with his father and stayed there for months and descend back to valley before onset of harsher winter.
Let me use the term "bread earner cum learner" for Rameez. Those kids who study at schools as well as support families financially should be called "Earners cum Learners".
But he isn't alone, there are many more like him in every Govt. School across the nooks of valley. They have to support their families while keeping their education going on. They run errands, do household chores, support families in farming activities as well as do part time labour activities to manage their household economy.
I can cite hundreds of such examples which i got encountered with while working in Govt school since last two years.
At Ashmuqams' Amad, with the onset of winter, many of our school children along with families migrate to places like Jammu, Amritsar, Delhi, Kolkata to work on "Ferri" i.e. selling kashmir made shawls, clothes etc. They attend school for few months in March to May, then the attendences drop by for weeks in month of May/June due to start of rice season .
The attendences drastically drop again by July with start of Amarnath Yatra. Several of the students migrate to Chandanwari along with their horses and tents in order to help and earn from yatris. Each of them earns more or less than ten thousand bucks in a season as they revealed to me.
The attendences drastically drop again by July with start of Amarnath Yatra. Several of the students migrate to Chandanwari along with their horses and tents in order to help and earn from yatris. Each of them earns more or less than ten thousand bucks in a season as they revealed to me.
After that the attendence never picks up again until next year due to their favourite earning, "walnut and apple picking" seasons.
These are the children who are solely depended for education on their schools.
These are the children who are solely depended for education on their schools.
Given that, now imagine the toll taken on their learning outcome due to back to back hartals, covids, floods, and other school holidays.
The Climax:
Now today 'on 26th of Feb, 2021', the matriculation results were announced. And I feel joyous to share with you that my students have done better with 80% pass percentage in my Subject. Overall our schools pass percentange is promising 70 %. According to the data, that overall pass percentage of Private schools is 79 % and that of Govt Schools is 63 % which is quite decent.
Where as it is expected that Private school kids 'as I was' will fetch better than their Govt school counterparts in academics for obvious reasons.
The Climax:
Now today 'on 26th of Feb, 2021', the matriculation results were announced. And I feel joyous to share with you that my students have done better with 80% pass percentage in my Subject. Overall our schools pass percentange is promising 70 %. According to the data, that overall pass percentage of Private schools is 79 % and that of Govt Schools is 63 % which is quite decent.
Where as it is expected that Private school kids 'as I was' will fetch better than their Govt school counterparts in academics for obvious reasons.
However, there are many alternate indicators other than academics where private kids are of no match to Govt school kids which include life skills, sports, extracurricular activities.
Where as we also must acknowledge the fact that there are many harsh reforms which must be undertaken to enhance the teaching learning process in Govt Schools and that NEP 2020 is step in right direction.
However, the Lord Haw Haws, the social media armchair warriors, few agitated journalists have already jumped into the fray.
With no locus standi on such matters nor an aorta of knowledge about the scanario of education in the peripheries in valley, neither taking the account of problems faced by STs, SCs, EWS vis a vis Education, they unnecessarily set agenda for defamation of govt. school teachers. This is not the first time it has happened, nor will be the last. Behold! Class 12th results may be announced in few days.
It must be made clear that there can be no way that a Govt school kid ought to be compared with a private school kid merely on basis of academic performace. No, they do not sail on the same boat.
Where as we also must acknowledge the fact that there are many harsh reforms which must be undertaken to enhance the teaching learning process in Govt Schools and that NEP 2020 is step in right direction.
However, the Lord Haw Haws, the social media armchair warriors, few agitated journalists have already jumped into the fray.
With no locus standi on such matters nor an aorta of knowledge about the scanario of education in the peripheries in valley, neither taking the account of problems faced by STs, SCs, EWS vis a vis Education, they unnecessarily set agenda for defamation of govt. school teachers. This is not the first time it has happened, nor will be the last. Behold! Class 12th results may be announced in few days.
It must be made clear that there can be no way that a Govt school kid ought to be compared with a private school kid merely on basis of academic performace. No, they do not sail on the same boat.
Where as it is also true that our private school teachers are suffering and deserve to be paid more. But to say they work harder than the peers in govt sector is utterly disrespectful for thousands of efficient teachers working there in Govt Schools.
Let me cite an example of INSPIRE AWARDS MANAK Science project awards 2020, the results of which were announced recently. Where as few Private schools like DPS Srinagar won the award, the news of which was also carried by reputed newspaper like kashmir life. However, it is pertinant to mention that no newspaper bothered to carry the news that in Anantnag alone, 50 plus Govt schools, including our school, won this award. Where as only two or three of private schools in the district could qualify for it. This was only possible due to efficiency and hard work of teachers there.
Much more can be written, but I don't want to disrespect such an honourable section of our society whose value creation is exploited by their bosses.
Let me cite an example of INSPIRE AWARDS MANAK Science project awards 2020, the results of which were announced recently. Where as few Private schools like DPS Srinagar won the award, the news of which was also carried by reputed newspaper like kashmir life. However, it is pertinant to mention that no newspaper bothered to carry the news that in Anantnag alone, 50 plus Govt schools, including our school, won this award. Where as only two or three of private schools in the district could qualify for it. This was only possible due to efficiency and hard work of teachers there.
Much more can be written, but I don't want to disrespect such an honourable section of our society whose value creation is exploited by their bosses.
The Ending:
To say that "saab changa sii" would not be the right approach as well. As i said earlier, harsh reforms need to be undertaken, Whether it is rationalization of staff, merging of schools, monthly scholarships to children and deterrence/reward to teachers et al, which could be the theme of discussion for a new blog.
Coming back to point, It made to the headlines when Mr. Manmohan Singh, who was known for his honorable silence, replied back to Sushma Swaraj. He replied with a "shaar" of Ghalib, which goes like.
To say that "saab changa sii" would not be the right approach as well. As i said earlier, harsh reforms need to be undertaken, Whether it is rationalization of staff, merging of schools, monthly scholarships to children and deterrence/reward to teachers et al, which could be the theme of discussion for a new blog.
Coming back to point, It made to the headlines when Mr. Manmohan Singh, who was known for his honorable silence, replied back to Sushma Swaraj. He replied with a "shaar" of Ghalib, which goes like.
"Maana Kii Teri Deed Ky Qabil Nahi Hun Mai'
Maana Kii Teri Deed Ky Qabil Nahi Hun Mai'
Tu Mera Shauq to Dekh, Mera Intizaar toh Dekh"
Teacher Batch 2019, is the matrix of fresh blood, passionate grit and determination. Their "Shauq" ought to be given support and wings.
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True. Judging a whole profession on the basis of the actions of the few is a futile exercise.
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