Wanted: Science and math teachers
There is a noticeable drop in number of BEd students opting for these subjects due to the paltry payscale offered in schools
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, September 22, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2010092220100922030919243c3481f6a)
The education scene in Gujarat is looking grimmer with each passing day. If the statistics are to be believed, the state will soon be facing scarcity of teachers for Science and Math subjects.
With paltry salaries and no guarantee of a good life, most of the B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) colleges find no takers. Educationist fear that if this situation continues, there will soon be no takers of the subjects.
C P Patel principal of A G Teachers college blamed the government for this situation. He said, “The government should come up with some incentives to attract youth. It is time they revamp and revive their policies.”
He adds, “In the next five to six years, well-qualified science teachers will not be available. We are already experiencing the shortage. The number of students in PTC colleges have also gone down considerably. Out of the 40,000 seats, most of them are still vacant.”
The scenario is worse in rural areas where there are almost no takers for science stream. Educationist Ashok Patel says, “The students in rural areas opt for commerce or arts, rarely wanting to study science. While the students in the city who opt to study science do not want to become teachers.”
With increase in the seats for professional courses, students see no reason to study Bed and earn a meagre salary of Rs 2,500 reasons Patel. He adds, “A science and math teacher can also teach social studies or languages such as Hindi, Gujarati and English. But the same does not hold true for those who are not qualified to teach science and math.”
As a result of scarcity of science teachers, the number of students opting for science stream will also go down. This will impair the researches in science which require students and qualified people from pure science background.
Patel says, “When on one hand government is promoting research- based innovations, on the other it has ignored the problem of lack of qualified people who can conduct the researches.”
Hitendra Trivedi, principal at C N Vidyalaya says, “Shikshak Sahay is merely Rs 2,500 which is not enough given today’s cost of living and price hikes.” He adds, “Many youngsters are interested in teaching, but the pay is so meagre that it acts as a deterrent.
They do not want such a pathetic career when professional courses will give them better opportunities and better pay. Even a salesmen earns Rs 10,000 in a month. Also the fact that after completion of the course, they may be sent to rural areas as well deters them. On top all this, there is also no job security.”
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, September 22, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2010092220100922030919243c3481f6a)
The education scene in Gujarat is looking grimmer with each passing day. If the statistics are to be believed, the state will soon be facing scarcity of teachers for Science and Math subjects.
With paltry salaries and no guarantee of a good life, most of the B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) colleges find no takers. Educationist fear that if this situation continues, there will soon be no takers of the subjects.
C P Patel principal of A G Teachers college blamed the government for this situation. He said, “The government should come up with some incentives to attract youth. It is time they revamp and revive their policies.”
He adds, “In the next five to six years, well-qualified science teachers will not be available. We are already experiencing the shortage. The number of students in PTC colleges have also gone down considerably. Out of the 40,000 seats, most of them are still vacant.”
The scenario is worse in rural areas where there are almost no takers for science stream. Educationist Ashok Patel says, “The students in rural areas opt for commerce or arts, rarely wanting to study science. While the students in the city who opt to study science do not want to become teachers.”
With increase in the seats for professional courses, students see no reason to study Bed and earn a meagre salary of Rs 2,500 reasons Patel. He adds, “A science and math teacher can also teach social studies or languages such as Hindi, Gujarati and English. But the same does not hold true for those who are not qualified to teach science and math.”
As a result of scarcity of science teachers, the number of students opting for science stream will also go down. This will impair the researches in science which require students and qualified people from pure science background.
Patel says, “When on one hand government is promoting research- based innovations, on the other it has ignored the problem of lack of qualified people who can conduct the researches.”
Hitendra Trivedi, principal at C N Vidyalaya says, “Shikshak Sahay is merely Rs 2,500 which is not enough given today’s cost of living and price hikes.” He adds, “Many youngsters are interested in teaching, but the pay is so meagre that it acts as a deterrent.
They do not want such a pathetic career when professional courses will give them better opportunities and better pay. Even a salesmen earns Rs 10,000 in a month. Also the fact that after completion of the course, they may be sent to rural areas as well deters them. On top all this, there is also no job security.”
