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HRD Minister Smriti Irani launches Prashikshak for Teachers
Emphasising on the need to ensure quality of teachers, HRD Minister Smriti Irani today said many people feel nothing is right in the education sector, but it is the responsibility of those holding a position to send a message that solutions are possible in specific time-frame.
Launching a teachers education portal for District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs)–Prashikshak, Smriti Irani said the field of education, which many look at with much expectation, is full of challenges.
"When education is discussed in the country, an atmosphere lacking in enthusiasm prevails. Same words that nothing is right are there on everyones lips," she said.
"The responsibility to send a message that solutions are possible in a specific time-frame lies on them and us." the HRD Minister said referring to state ministers and officials present at the event.
Irani said there was no national mechanism to determine education quality even when central grants for teacher education were being provided since 1987.
Irani also said that a report of National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) had sought a mechanism in this regard, and Prashikshak portal provides a benchmark for quality.
"Quality (of teachers) has become a concern across the country. But what is that quality which is expected? Is it defined by how well your curriculum is devised? Is it defined by when was your last curriculum revised? When was it restructured to meet current needs? Is quality defined by how many people got placements? Such a monitoring mechanism was not available, which through Prashikshak is now available," Smriti Irani said.
The portal is expected to give benchmarks and other vital data related to teachers, vacancies and education which will help both the Centre and the states. Irani said the newly-launched portal would initially contain data on DIETs but soon include other teachers training institutes in the country.
While referring to Minister of State for HRD, Upendra Kushwahas commented that often there are gaps between the ground reality and data, to which Irani responded that it is true and a result of inadequate monitoring.
She also said that her ministry had taken up surveys to check the availability of teachers in various areas, and by the end of this year all teaching training institutes will be geo-tagged.
A high 38 per cent vacancies exist in teachers education instituted, stated Secretary School Education and Literacy S C Khuntia in her speech.
Irani also suggested that national awards to teachers should be given using feedbacks from parents and local people.
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