The primary school teacher in Matriculation schools

A third standard child's painting done on the computer

What is the social position of an Indian primary school teacher? 

Primary teaching  has become the most difficult and un-recognized work given to the progress of society which is thankless to its primary school teachers. These teachers do not even get 20% salary of a Professor working at a University. We think the primary teacher's job can be done by any graduate while the University 'contributes' to society. The foundation of our education itself needs to be looked at more closely. We have to understand the implications of government policies on  education. 

How have these teachers built a new generation of engineers, doctors, lawyers, charted accountants, scientists and so on and so on? 

What are the value systems, belief patterns, ethical standards that have been given by these teachers to the educated class of our country? 

Do we know the belief patterns put by these teachers in the minds of children probably can never be erased, and will direct them the rest of their lives?

Do we know children pick up language structures from teachers and  find it very difficult to change them later?

The young teachers, usually just out of college of higher secondary schools  working in Matriculation schools  find it very difficult to tackle the city bred children.These children are computer savvy, are comfortable with English and the internet and in some families are exposed to news analysis too. They have a highly individualistic approach to life, treated as equals by educated parents. They have a well developed mind of their own, and refuse to believe things if they are not convinced.

Are the teachers equipped enough to cater to the needs of these next generation students?

The issues faced by teachers:

1. Pressure from the Management to produce 'high marks', 'neat class work notes', 'neat home work notes, 'neat test notes' and now 'neat assignments or projects'. Every work of the child should be 'neat'. It has to be 'perfect'. Every day hundreds of notes have to be 'corrected'. Can they be actually 'corrected'?

2.  Pressure from parents, especially  young mothers. These mothers meet the class teachers regularly and  interrogate the class teachers why their wards have not scored 100 marks in all subjects. Class work notes have to 'corrected' and should be without mistakes.

3. There are no hours allotted to value education in classes.

4. There are no hours allotted to play, as either the school has no grounds, or because it has not appointed no games teacher.

5. There are no handicrafts or arts class; no music classes; no painting classes within the official time-table. Both the Management ans the parents do not want them. The pent up energy of children get frustrated and the class teacher bears the bent of these emotions everyday. 

6. The mixed group of children- some brilliant and over-informative, some normal, some slow

7. Medium of instruction is English. This is a problem for most of the teachers. 

Higher Education has to build a negotiation with Primary education. We have to call primary teachers to discuss policies.