Opinion
Skilling up is important in order for teachers to grow professionally – Gitika Kishanchandani, co-founder, KA EduAssociates
On whom does the onus lie for the effective training of our teachers? And what are the resources best recommended by educators to effectively train teachers? Read on for an assessment by Gitika Kishanchandani, co-founder, KA EduAssociates.
Students benefit most from high quality instruction – and not necessarily highly qualified teachers. Effective teacher training makes all the difference. If teacher training is to be an ongoing process – to improve the quality of teachers, and thus of students – on whom does the onus lie for the effective training of our teachers? And what are the resources best recommended by educators to effectively train teachers? Read on for an assessment by Gitika Kishanchandani, co-founder, KA EduAssociates.
The April 2019 deadline draws nearer, which will bar teachers who do not have the minimum qualifications mandated under the RTE Act 2009, from continuing in service. Is this a long-due corrective remedy? Is teacher training finally getting its due?
Yes, it certainly is much awaited and much needed. It is high time we acknowledged the urgent and overwhelming need for teacher training to be mandatory in schools, if we are to create world-class educational institutions that strive towards achieving excellence and quality at all times.
It is believed that no education system in the world has excelled without making a significant investment in building a cadre of quality teachers. How can we improve this weak link in the Indian education system?
It is the responsibility of School Managements to allocate a substantial sum of their annual budgets each year towards teacher training. Skilling up is important in order for teachers to grow professionally and witness a progression in their career. This will also enable them to create better and more effective learning environments.
Teacher training is often considered important only for procuring certification and thus a job. Unfortunately, quality suffers. Should teacher training be an ongoing process to improve the quality of teachers, and thus of students? Who needs to take the onus here?
Yes, teacher training must undoubtedly be an ongoing process that continues through the year, as it is very important to revisit concepts and pedagogies. The onus is firstly on the government to encourage more quality-conscious teacher training companies and institutions to collaborate with schools and ensure that relevant training courses are implemented.
Secondly, the School Management must take responsibility to create opportunities for skill-based teacher training. It is also upto individual teachers to ensure that that they are better versed with newer trends in education so as to create an effective impact in the classroom.
What are the resources you recommend to effectively train teachers?
Practical, implementable online and face-to-face modules, customised to the needs of the teachers and schools
Peer sharing and learning collaboratively
Videos and audio-visual aids
Contextual data and case studies, role play
Creating and effectively utilising teaching aids and manipulatives