KARACHI:
Once held in high regard as one of the noblest professions, teaching has lost its lustre in recent years due to a multitude of reasons. As a former teacher, I have observed that school management has burdened teachers with unrealistic expectations, expecting them to selflessly manage and educate classes of 30 or more students without adequate compensation.
The demands on teachers go beyond the classroom as they are expected to also act as counsellors to parents, addressing behavioural issues at home. While teachers undoubtedly play a significant role in a child’s academic and personal growth, it is important to recognise the shared responsibility of parents, teachers, and students in this process. Unfortunately, parents are often exempt from any responsibility beyond paying school fees placing an undue burden on teachers to carry the weight of a child’s development alone.
This neglect of shared responsibility has left teachers with a heavy workload that often overshadows their personal lives. It is time for society to recognise the plight of our educators and work towards creating a more equitable and supportive system for all those involved in the education of our children. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child, and it is high time for the village to step up and support its teachers.
Rakhshanda Abbas
Gilgit
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2023.
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