College teachers can’t skip SCOPE

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Tutorial fees will be refunded if the teacher clears the examination which tests an individual’s knowledge of English


By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, January 02, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2010010220100102032503849d1476ea7)

The state government has decided that from this year, college teachers - nearly 5,000 in the state - will have to take SCOPE exam mandatorily.
Society for Creation of Opportunity Through Proficiency in English or SCOPE is a state government programme aimed at teaching the language to the youth.
The programme, launched about three years ago, had since also covered government officials, school and college students.
This is the first time, however, that a college teacher will have to appear for the exam, according to a Commissionerate of Higher Education directive.
Attending the tutorials spread over 90 hours, however, won’t be mandatory for those teaching English as a subject or teaching in an English medium colleges. The tutorial fees will be refunded if the teacher clears the examination.
The level for which the college teacher will have to appear is yet to be decided. The SCOPE has five levels and each level covers reading, speaking and grammar. Within each learning area there are a range of online tools designed to provide students with the pedagogical support needed to effectively and independently work in that learning area.
“Teachers who don’t know English avoid using the internet to update themselves and hence, cannot teach better,” the source said, adding that the new directive is aimed at raising the teaching standards so that the students benefit.
It should not be mandatory. There is no need for such an exam. Of course, training is welcome. College teachers are now being recruited following National Eligibility Test and State Level Eligibility Test. They know their English. If we are talking about the need for English in research, there are many countries which don’t propogate use of the language. Don’t the teachers there carry out research ?
—Sanjay Bhave, professor, HK College

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