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Grading
teachers Let’s
educate ourselves Campus
Notes
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Grading teachers The criteria on the basis of which a teacher is likely to be assessed include research done by him, the impact of this research, contribution in forming curriculum, conducting examinations, results of the classes taught, projects given to students, innovative experiments, teacher’s relationship with the students and extension of his services to society, national and international conferences/seminars, etc., attended by the teacher and his overall contribution during his entire teaching career. Will this idea find favour with the teachers and other educationists? Dr Satya Prakash, former Vice-Chancellor of Jiwaji University, Gwalior, calls it a duplicate and unnecessary effort. “The latest parameters notified by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for promotion of college and university teachers are similar to the ones to be considered by NAAC, so where is the need for another assessment?” he asks. However, Raman Mittal, who teaches law at Delhi University, favours this idea and is of the firm view that that main criterion for grading teachers should be their evaluation by their students. He thinks that other yardsticks are far less important. Pahlad Aggarwal, a retired principal, seconds him. “This view has already been discussed from time to time and may invite objections from some teachers who think that all students are not mature enough and impartial in their judgement.” As for teachers’ contribution to society is concerned, the UGC has made a provision to give credit to those teachers who actively participate in their subject associations and other similar organisations, so that they can also work in their fields of study outside the classrooms as well as laboratories. “When a well-meaning and spirited teacher is able to motivate and mentally orient his students for the welfare of society, he himself becomes a path-setter for the future,” avers Prof. Satya Prakash. Moroever, research conducted by teachers in scientific, political and social fields ultimately impacts and benefits society. Besides being controversial, the implementation of the idea of grading/accrediting teachers individually at the level of higher education by NAAC may not be an easy task. The pertinent question that arises here is: Does NAAC have the requisite infrastructure to undertake this gigantic exercise? Hundreds of committees of eligible academicians will have to be constituted to grade lakhs of college and university teachers in the country. Therefore, all aspects of this controversial issue need to be looked into before taking a final decision. The writer is a retired Principal
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Let’s educate ourselves While the Principal was addressing us, I saw a parent who is a well-known personality of Chandigarh, walking to and fro in the ground. When his child was performing, he was clicking photographs but as soon as the child’s performance was over, the parent decided that the show was over. And what a distraction he would have been to the students who could see him while they were performing on the stage! I observed that during the Principal’s speech, he was unable to remain still for a moment. He was distracted and restless to the extent that it irritated. One would like to listen to the Principal of any school addressing the students because his words are crucial in building our children’s future. The advice also reflects the ethos of the school for each word is a stamp on the children’s impressionable minds. And, here was a parent who was doing everything that we do not expect of our children. He was fidgety, disrespectful and lacking in attention as well as in manners. How can we absolve ourselves and blame the children when they do something wrong? Usually we put the blame on school, teachers and the environment. Who builds up such environment of indiscipline? We do. We read a lot about the role of school in shaping our child. But the general consensus emerging is that the parents have to play a very important and active role in today’s consumerist society. There are so many influences on the child with a new phenomenon of both the parents working. This leads to new equations in the households. Parents, quite often, carry home tension of the workplace or are preoccupied, leaving the child to watch television or play games on a playstation. Our lives are not as disciplined as our parents. We are comparatively ill disciplined when it comes to our eating, sleeping and living habits. We are eating out more, letting our children sleep more because of the late-nights and having less conversation with our children. At informal gatherings, we often discuss about teachers and their weaknesses. Children are sharp and nothing escapes their ears, especially when it comes to their teachers. Would they respect their teachers? I went to a school in a city, where they are following the education system as is followed abroad. The students are encouraged to call the teachers by their first names; “Sir” or “Madam” is not allowed. This is not the Indian tradition where the Guru-Shishya is a way of life. High respect for teachers, immeasurable trust on the school and hard work have made Indians surge ahead in the world. As parents we need to further strengthen this tradition for our children, so that they can excel in the world. And for this, we need to discipline ourselves. Let us become children again and listen to the Principal because we need those sound words as much as our children. Only then can we ask our children to follow those words. The writer is Assistant Professor, Political Science, at DAV College, Chandigarh
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Campus Notes A two-day national seminar on "Diversification for Sustainable Profitability in Mushroom Production" was organised by the university in collaboration with the Indian Mushroom Growers Association. The seminar was inaugurated by Education Minister I. D. Dhiman who underlined the need to disseminate this technology widely, so that the youth and women in particular could adopt it as an occupation. He said the country was now producing around one lakh metric tonnes of mushrooms annually while the state produced around 8,000 metric tonnes. The Minister also released three publications Khumb ki Kheti written by Dr B. C. Suman and Dr Satish Kumar; Quality Control for Value Addition in Food Processing by Dr Dev Raj, Dr Rakesh Sharma and Dr V K Joshi; and one Souvenir. Dr Manjeet Singh, Director, Directorate of Mushroom Research, Chambaghat, who was the guest of honour, while highlighting the potential of the mushroom crop said it could become mass occupation for the youth. The Vice Chancellor of Dr Y. S. Parmar University, Dr K. R. Dhiman, emphasised the role of the university in standardising the technology of mushroom production according to local conditions and then its dissemination and popularisation in the country. The Professor and Head of the Department of Mycology and Plant Pathology, Dr R. C. Sharma apprised the chief guest and other visitors of the modern mushroom-growing facilities in the department during their visit. More than 73 scientists and growers from different parts of the country attended the seminar.
Integrated pest management
A three-day national symposium on "Perspectives and Challenges of Integrated Pest Management for Sustainable Agriculture" was organised on the university campus recently. More than 100 participants from all over India participated in the symposium. Arunachal Pradesh Horticulture Minister Honchun Nagandam was the chief guest of the inaugural session of the symposium. In his address, Nagandam said climatic conditions and topography of Arunachal and Himachal were similar and, therefore, both states should make the best use of scientific technology by sharing the information and plant material in the interest of farmers. The Vice-Chancellor, Dr K R Dhiman, said the emergence of resistance to pesticides in more than 600 insect species was the outcome of excessive and injudicious use of pesticides. He added that pests caused chronic qualitative and quantitative losses of up to 40 per cent of the attainable yield in major food and cash crops. Reducing the pre- and post-harvest losses caused by pests would be a significant contribution towards improved food security and safety and better market access.
Scientist gets plum post
Dr P. L. Gautam, an alumnus of Dr Y. S. Parmar University, recently took over as Chairman, Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers' Right Authority of India, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of India, New Delhi. Dr Gautam had started his career as scientist from G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand), and had served on different chairs in the country. Prior to this assignment, he was serving as Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Besides holding the prestigious post of Vice-Chancellor for two successive terms at G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, he also held the post of Managing Director, Uttarakhand Seeds and Terai Development Corporation, Pantnagar. His appointment has added another feature in the cap of university's achievements. — Contributed by Ambika Sharma
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NOW, it is the turn of university and college teachers to be graded by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), which has already been accrediting the institutions in which these teachers teach. On a recent suggestion put forward by the Vice-Chancellor of Rajasthan University, the matter is under the serious consideration of NAAC. 
RECENTLY, I was attending a function at my son’s school. In the series of plays that were being enacted in his school, it was the turn of his class the other day. After the play, the Principal addressed the children and the staff, and welcomed the parents. She appreciated the effort of the teachers and the children of the class in putting up a “brilliant show”. Then, she advised the students to try to be wonderful human beings.