Reforms and the task of getting teachers on board

GS Paper 2

Syllabus: Issues related to the development of the social sector involving education etc

Directions: Reforms undertaken by Andhra Government to improve the education system. You can use it as an example in mains for measures to improve education in India

Source: The Hindu

Context:

• The education system in Andhra Pradesh is changing rapidly following a slew of reforms that have been ushered in by the government.

Aim of the education reforms:

• Equitable and inclusive: To ensure that all children have access to quality education within an equitable and inclusive classroom environment
• Participation: Making them active participants in the learning process.

Objectives of reforms:

• Critical thinking: Shift the focus from content retention to building critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Holistic learning process: Making the learning process more experiential, holistic, integrated, enquiry-driven, and enjoyable.

Importance of app-based attendance system:

• Attendance: A platform to record the attendance of teachers in government schools across the State.
• Update on children: Parents will also receive SMS updates on their child’s arrival and departure from school.
• Teacher absenteeism: It checks teacher absenteeism.

Issues:

• School restructuring programme: it calls for a merger of classes three to five in primary schools with high schools (will further contribute to the school drop-out rate)
• Reapportionment of teaching staff in the State: It will only increase their workload in addition to shrinking existing teacher posts.
• Face recognition app by the School Education Department: Asking teachers to download it on their personal mobile phones and record their daily attendance
  • Teachers have Cited issues of virtual security reasons.

Conclusion:

• Part of reforms: As teachers are central to any change in the education system, they should not be left out of the realm of the reforms underway
• Incentivisation: The government could think of employing effective motivation and small-scale incentivisation to find a middle ground and make them partners in the ongoing journey.

Insta Links:

NEP 2020

Mains Link:

Q. National Electronic Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goals-4 (2030). It intended to restructure and re-orient the education system in India. Critically examine the statement. (UPSC 2020)

Prelims Links:

NEP

SDG4