Training for teachers puts Class 10 students in a fix

The mandatory continuous training programmes for teachers of government and government-aided schools in the State in place since January this year has raised questions on the performance of students in the upcoming Class 10 board examinations, with more than 80,000 teachers now reportedly being subject to undergo the training by even skipping classes.

The School Education Department had last month announced various training programmes for the teachers in State-run schools, including Integrated Computer Training (ICT), Integrated Education for Disabled Children (IED), National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement (NISHTA) programme, Students’ Safety Training and Teacher Skill Development Programme.

A senior official from the Directorate of School Education told DT Next all the training programmes are mandatory for teachers, especially in high schools. “The duration of each training programme launched in January 2020 will be around one week,” the official added.

According to the official, the teachers will have to participate in the training programmes of their choice on weekdays only. “It will be three days in a week,” the official said.

Academicians also point out that at any given point of time, more than 30,000 teachers, especially those taking classes for Class 10 in government and government-aided schools, were participating in the programme which are being conducted in a common place since January.

“As the teachers need to attend the training programme for three days in a week, they would be able to come to school only during the rest of the working days,” Tamil Nadu Teachers Association President P K Ilamaran said. “Even in my school, many teachers do not take classes, especially for Class 10 students, who will be facing board exams from next month,” he added.

Urging the Tamil Nadu government to immediately suspend the training programmes for the time being for the benefit of the students, Ilamaran said, “At present, more than 80,000 teachers are taking classes for Class 10 and of that total, about half of them could not take classes regularly due to the training”.

While stating all these training programmes to be essential, the teachers’ representative said that the government should conduct such programmes in the beginning of the academic year. “Even several parents, who have complained about the non-availability of teachers in the schools, are afraid of their children’s performance in the upcoming board exams,” Ilamaran claimed.

Echoing similar views, Kancheepuram District Parents-Teachers Association deputy secretary S Parandhaman also said government should stop conducting such training programmes to teachers at the near end of the academic year as board exams is vital for students.