The day after the Department of School Education and Literacy issued a circular prohibiting teachers attending workshops, seminars or video conferences during school hours, non-government organisations have expressed concerns over teacher training and upgrade.
While teachers are being asked to stay away from all workshops or training, some experts rue that this might hinder their professional development.
They have requested the department to instead consider a balanced approach between protecting students’ learning time and teachers’ professional development.
“I respectfully acknowledge that the directive aims to ensure that teachers are not assigned to training programs, workshops, meetings, or other activities during school days in order to prioritise students’ learning time. This objective of safeguarding students’ education is commendable and clearly made in the best interest of children.
However, I would like to express a concern that this directive may inadvertently hinder teachers’ professional development. In today’s rapidly changing world, it is essential to empower teachers with up-to-date knowledge and skills. Training on crucial topics such as Artificial Intelligence, POCSO, Child Rights, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Climate Change are indispensable for teachers to effectively guide students with comprehensive and relevant information. Such training enables teachers to face modern challenges and contributes to improving the overall learning environment in schools,” said Nagasimha G Rao, a Bengaluru-based child rights activist and director, Child Rights Trust.
He expressed concerns that such a blanket ban could deprive them of valuable opportunities to engage in child-centric programs like Makkala Grama Sabhas, Child Rights Parliaments, etc. These programmes are integral to education, helping children build leadership, decision-making, and communication skills—vital life skills that are often nurtured through experiential learning outside the classroom.
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