Agriculture and Kodagu District In-charge Minister P.M. Narendra Swamy has said a plan will be formulated to strengthen government schools in Kodagu by providing technology-based education through the combined use of MLAs’ Area Development Grants and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Teachers’ Day celebrations and District Best Teacher Awards programme, organised jointly by the District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, School Education Department and Karnataka State Teachers’ Welfare Fund at St. Joseph’s High School recently.
The Minister suggested that MLAs consider contributing Rs. 25 lakh each towards the project, with the remaining funds being mobilised through CSR contributions from private institutions.Observing that the present education system places considerable emphasis on marks, Narendra Swamy said marks alone should not be regarded as a measure of intelligence or talent. Education, he said, should focus on developing rational thinking, creativity, self-confidence, empathy and a holistic outlook among students.
“Today, children have mobile phones in addition to books. Google can provide thousands of answers, while artificial intelligence can answer questions instantly. But it is the teacher who teaches a child how to ask the right question,” he said.Teachers also play a crucial role in helping students distinguish between right and wrong, he said, adding that their importance has not diminished in the age of artificial intelligence. On the contrary, the role of teachers in guiding students through the challenges posed by technology has become even more important. He urged teachers to recognise this responsibility and make a meaningful contribution to nation-building. Recalling the contribution of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, whose birthday is observed as Teachers’ Day, the Minister said the former Vice-President and President of India was a philosopher, educationist and ideal teacher who had served as a teacher for nearly four decades.
Dr. Radhakrishnan believed that the primary purpose of education was to mould children into responsible citizens of the future. Teachers’ Day, therefore, should not merely be an occasion to honour teachers but also an opportunity to reflect on the education system, the responsibilities of teachers and the mindset of students, he said.
The Minister said the notion that a child’s learning was complete once homework was finished needed to change. Children possess an innate curiosity to learn beyond the school curriculum, and teachers must respect that curiosity while encouraging them to question, explore and think independently. “Behind the success of every great person is the inspiration of a good teacher,” he said, stressing that teachers have a profound influence on the lives of individuals and play an important role in nation-building. According to the Minister, Kodagu has 699 schools with a total enrolment of 64,096 students. As many as 3,756 teachers are currently serving in the district, while around 350 guest teachers are being engaged to fill vacancies. The Education Department is providing free textbooks to 64,096 students in government, aided and unaided schools. Two sets of uniforms, along with shoes and socks, are being provided free of cost to 16,696 students in government schools.
Under the Comprehensive Education Programme, several initiatives have been implemented to improve the quality of education. Kodagu currently has seven PM Shri schools, three ADBKPS schools, eight KPS schools, 83 dual-medium schools and 40 LKG/UKG schools.
The district recorded a 96.54% pass percentage in the SSLC examination during the last academic year. Of the 168 schools in the district, 102 recorded a 100% pass percentage. The Minister congratulated the teachers and students of these institutions.
Teachers Have a Responsibility to Shape Society: Ponnanna
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister’s Political Secretary and Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna said teachers have a crucial role in responding to the rapid changes taking place in society and the education sector.Teachers are not merely educators, but also have the responsibility of shaping the future of society. Given the respect they command, they must work towards moulding the next generation into responsible citizens, he said.Children today are intelligent and well-informed, and with proper guidance and education, they can make a significant contribution to society and the country. The responsibility of shaping them into good citizens rests largely with teachers, he said.
He appreciated the contribution of teachers at the primary and high school levels and noted that the district’s SSLC results had improved compared to the previous year. He urged teachers to continue working with greater responsibility so that students from Kodagu could excel at the State and national levels.
Teachers’ Influence Extends Beyond the Classroom: Mantar Gowda
Madikeri MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda said teachers carry a responsibility that extends far beyond classroom instruction and can influence a child’s entire life. He called for a culture of sharing knowledge and experience with the next generation, saying that knowledge should not be confined to individuals but shared for the benefit of society. Quality education is essential for securing a better future for children. Even a lesson lasting only a few minutes or an hour can have a lasting impact on a child’s life, he said.
For children, textbook knowledge, marks and examination results are not the only important factors. The manner in which teachers and parents interact with children also plays an important role in shaping their personalities.Dr. Mantar Gowda pointed to infrastructure and building-related challenges facing government schools and said, in his personal view, greater budgetary allocations should be made for education and healthcare. He appreciated teachers in government, aided and unaided schools for working together to improve educational standards and urged Education Department officials to address teachers’ concerns with empathy and trust. Noting that he is also the son of a teacher, he said every child has different interests and abilities. Teachers and parents must identify these individual strengths, give children adequate time and guide them patiently.
Technology Cannot Replace Teachers, Says Shakti Daily Editor
B.G. Anantha Shayana, Consulting Editor of Shakti Daily, said that although technology and artificial intelligence have assumed an increasingly important role in modern life, there can be no substitute for the physical presence and guidance of teachers in a student’s life. Google, ChatGPT, calculators and artificial intelligence can provide instant answers, he said. However, when a child fails an examination or makes a mistake, technology cannot provide the emotional support and encouragement that a teacher can.
“Today’s children are highly intelligent and ask difficult questions. Teachers must therefore prepare themselves every day to meet their expectations,” he said, adding that the challenge before teachers was to move beyond the confines of textbooks and teach according to the intellectual abilities of their students.
He said society would descend into chaos if the role of teachers were diminished. From ancient times to the present day, the contribution of a guru has remained behind the achievements of individuals and societies. Teachers often put aside their own difficulties and work selflessly for the welfare of their students. A committed teacher, he said, has the ability to bring about a profound transformation in a child’s life.
Teachers Seek Restoration of Old Pension Scheme
H.S. Chetan, General Secretary of the Karnataka State Primary School Teachers’ Association, said the long-standing C&R issue concerning primary school teachers had been successfully resolved following sustained efforts by the association under the leadership of its president, Chandrashekhar Nugli.
He said government employees working under KCSR rules spend their working lives serving through teaching, census duties and other responsibilities. It was unfortunate that after retirement, following decades of service, many faced a “no pension” situation, he said. He described the pensionless system under the National Pension System (NPS) as a major concern for teachers and government employees and assured that the Primary School Teachers’ Association would work towards restoring the old pension scheme for NPS employees during the remaining two years of the present government. Madikeri Municipal Council President P. Kalavathi said society must acknowledge the sacrifice, hard work and dedication of teachers who guide children towards the right path. Children spend considerable time with their teachers and often listen more attentively to their words of wisdom. Teachers guide children with affection and help mould them into responsible citizens, she said.District Collector S.J. Somashekar, Zilla Panchayat CEO Anand Prakash Meena, District Superintendent of Police R.N. Bindumani and representatives of various teachers’ associations and educational institutions attended the programme.The Teachers’ Lahari team performed Vande Mataram, Naad Geete and Raitha Geete. Deputy Director of the School Education Department Mahesh R.P. welcomed the gathering, while District Primary School Teachers’ Association President K.S. Prasanna Kumar proposed the vote of thanks.District-level awards were presented during the programme. Head teachers of high schools that recorded 100% results in the SSLC examination during the 2023-24 academic year were felicitated, while retired senior teachers were also honoured.
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