Our education sector and Khader Committee proposals

In order to improve the standard of education in the state, there is a need to bring in creative changes in the training of teachers. The second half of the Khader Committee, submitted to Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, has embraced this with much importance.

Khader Committee has proposed a five-year integrated PG course instead of studying different courses to become a teacher. In place of the present D.El.Ed, B.Ed courses for those who wish to become a teacher, the committee suggests a five-year integrated PG course after securing a pass in plus 2. This will prevent those people, without any interest in teaching, from taking that profession, unintentionally. Anyway, such people cannot do any good for either themselves or the children if they become a teacher.

Only those persons who have an interest and capability in teaching must be channeled to the education sector. The definition of teaching must not be solely tied to that of a job. The role of a teacher is just as important as a parent in molding a child into a future citizen. The teacher is extremely important in building character and self-confidence in the students.

Therefore, a special entrance exam must be conducted to identify and select persons who have the capability and interest in teaching. Only those who pass the entrance exam must be admitted to the five-year integrated PG course for teaching.

Another proposal of the Khader Committee is on the school timings. It suggests a time from 8 am to noon. In addition, the authorities must make sure that the online classes, which began during Covid must not be stopped completely.

The students must be made proficient and skillful in many new types of new jobs that are coming up. Each student has different abilities and potential. This must be identified at an early age and must be taught accordingly. A team of teachers and experts from other industries must be formed for this.

The committee also says that the number of students in a school must be limited, just as how the numbers are limited in classrooms. This must be done after many deliberations, otherwise, there would be strong opposition from the aided-school sector. However, the government must be strict in ensuring that as the number of students rise, the basic infrastructure of the school should also be developed.

A proposal that the government must seriously consider is the present Education law concerning the loss of a teacher’s post when the number of students fall. This law must be amended so that those who lose their post can be transferred to other aided schools.

The proposal that the school education must be imparted in the mother tongue is welcome. However, the significance of English must not be sidelined. About half of those who complete school education go to other states or to foreign countries for work. Our mother tongue will not be helpful there. Therefore, a practical approach is needed to secure the future of our children.

The government must be ready to implement the good suggestions of the Khader Committee without much delay.