By Dr. Grace Pinto
‘The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.’
This quote of ‘Mark Van Doren’ beautifully highlights the significant role that a teacher has to play in shaping the destinies of our children. Every child is gifted and capable of achieving great things in life and it is here that a teacher comes in to help children discover their strengths, talents and skills and lead them towards self discovery. Teacher’s role is therefore not merely lecturing or transmitting information and facts but to offer every child a rich, rewarding, and unique learning experience to become creators of knowledge and realise their own potential.
Being a teacher is one of the most challenging yet respectable careers which is vital for the welfare of our young citizens and progress of our country at large. We are living in a time where education is going through a paradigm change and huge restructuring.
In India the new National Education Policy (NEP) has given a road map to nurture not only employable citizens but also researchers and entrepreneurs through education that is holistic, accessible, equitable and research based. At this juncture, teachers have to rethink, unlearn and relearn to reinvent themselves to be equipped and well prepared to help students to bring out the best in them.
As we celebrate teachers’ day on the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, the second president of India, who was a renowned teacher and a wonderful educationist, we remember all our dear teachers for their spirit of sacrifice in fostering students’ development with sincere commitment.
Malcolm X has rightly said that “Education is the passport to the future…” Enhancement of society and students’ lives largely depend on the quality of education that they are provided with. The need of the hour is to provide our children with experiential learning opportunities; Practical Learning with cultivation of 21st Century Skills of Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Technology Literacy, Leadership, Social Skills are essential aspects for their holistic growth.
Teachers do remain an integral part of the entire educational process. Also, on this day, it is so fitting to acknowledge the many unsung heroes who took the role of reaching out on their own, bearing personal responsibility, to the underprivileged, poor and those who are in need of education. The need of the hour for India to stay relevant is to develop teachers who are willing to rise above the challenges and work towards student welfare and development and equipping them with confidence and encouragement for the dynamic future.
Life is all about learning and in this process of learning, teachers themselves ought to be lifelong learners and play a role of assisting and facilitating the best out of every student. While teachers adapt to new teaching-learning environments and adopt new practices through technology integration for the intellectual growth of our students, it is imperative for them to ensure children’s Social-emotional and spiritual growth.
All my dear teachers, God has bestowed on you a very vital role, be dedicated to your calling as mentors, guides, facilitators, and co-learners in order to nurture our students as passionate lifelong learners.
Wish you a very Happy Teachers’ Day!
Contributing Author: Dr Grace Pinto is Managing Director, Ryan International Group of Institutions which has network of 135+ plus schools spread over 18 States of India. Dr Pinto is responsible for providing overall strategic direction to the organization and ensuring effective imparting of education to nearly a quarter of a million students.
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