From: Ana Maria Fernandes <amferns_n...@hotmail.com>
Subject: [Goanet] support to computer teachrs
Message-ID: <SNT138-
w5964ac0424563930a6ec49fd...@phx.gbl>
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Let us support the cause of the computer ?teachers. Most of them have been
working for last fifteen years in the same school with less salary and more
work. They worked on contract basis for the last fifteen years. The
diocesan school has done injustice to them and so too the catholic schools
by not giving them their appointment letters. Today is the feast of
St.Francis Xaviers and most of the priests must have celebrated the mass
either in their churchs, chapels or at old Goa. Many of the nuns must have
also attended the feast and have a grand show but where is Christ that they
are preaching about ? How can we be biased in our nature and be like
Dr.Jekyl and Mr. Hyde ? while the priest have been giving a tall sermon and
talk about the love of Christ and says love one another as Jesus has loved
you and in action we are worse than Hitler. How can priest and nuns who are
running the school be heartless ? Can't they see that these computer
teachers are human like us ? I know a n
umber of priests who are heads teach by reading the book. Many of them are
inefficient. They boast of something that they do not possess. They get the
work done from the teachers and take credit for themselves. One notices on
school functions the chief guest will elevate the head of the school as
efficient dynamic etc etc etc but in reality the teachers have toiled and
moiled and the head is just a useless statue. Let us be practical and those
who really love Christ will support the cause of these teachers by writing
just one letter to the editor in the newspaper of your ?choice.?By Ann
Marie Fernandes
=========
Dear Ms. Fernandes,
You say support computer teachers probably because you are a computer
teacher or else someone dear or near to you is a computer teacher.
While, I do sympathize with computer teachers because they are not being
accepted by certain managements, I have my reservations about your cause.
Let us go back in time and make a study of how computer teachers came into
being in Goa. Initially, most schools in Goa did not even have computers.
It was Mr. Harish Zantye who as an MP alloted some schools with three
computers and a dot matrix printer under the MPLAD scheme. At that time,
the schools which received the computers were supposed to make their own
arrangements to teach the students. Many schools tied up with computer
institutes to give their students training in computers.
Later on when all the MPs started giving schools computers under the MPLAD
scheme and when the Government itself decided to give schools computers,
there was a universal demand that the students be given instruction in
computers. This was achieved by introducing a computer awareness course in
schools. Under the terms of the centrally sponsored scheme, the computer
awareness courses were to conducted by independent contractors. At first
there was a company from Delhi which took up the contract and later on a
Goan agency ACES.
These independent contractors were more interested in their own gains and
went to the extent of employing young persons who had merely done a few
months training in the standard software packages like word and excel and
powerpoint. These teachers were neither qualified academically nor were
they trained as computer teachers. After ACES, there was another contractor
who was forced to take the people employed by ACES.
All this while, there was no attempt to upgrade the qualifications of
computer teachers. The teaching of computers in most schools remains shoddy
so much so that children who should have loved to attend computer classes
prefer not to do so. The reason that they give is that they are merely made
to type and nothing else.
At this juncture, the Goa Government took an important decision to
introduce a PGDCET (Post Graduate Diploma in Computers and Educational
Technology). The name was strange as there were a few of the computer
teachers who were not even Graduates! Moreover, the language skills of some
of them are atrocious. How did the computer teachers react? They decided to
boycott the course unless the periodic examinations were made purely
voluntary and there was to be no compulsion to pass the course! So much for
teachers wanting to improve themselves and teaching by example.
A teacher in a school, has necessarily to have at least a higher secondary
school certificate or a degree to teach. Moreover, training is mandatory.
Besides, a teacher has a workload of 18hours per week. Most work more than
this. What would be the work load of a computer teacher when computer
awareness is not even a regular subject but is supposed to be taught after
hours?
As per the School Education Act and the Rules made under the Act, the
managements have a right to choose their own employees. The Diocesan
Society in particular is a Society which is the umbrella Society for a
large number of Minority Institutions. The Indian Constitution guarantees
the rights of Minorities to employ whom they want. Surely, the computer
teachers cannot grudge them the right to interview and select their own
employees? Considering that these posts are permanent post a single rotter
in the staff would corrupt the whole basket! The strength of a chain is the
strength of its weakest link. If the computer teacher is going to be the
weakest link in the school, heaven help the school. Teaching is not about
working union hours and then going home. It involves a whole lot of
initiatives and activity. Many computer teachers are reluctant to do what
they see as 'office work'. One computer teacher I know used to spend as
much time as possible in the staff room gossiping away!
Why should you perceive priests and nuns as heartless when they are merely
acting in the best interests of their respective institutions? Are computer
teachers doing free work or are they being paid handsomely (those of them
that are employed, that is)?
And Ms. Fernandes, your rancour against the heads of institutions for
getting the credit for functions is unfounded. The head of the institution
has to be able to elicit teamwork from his/ her staff members to get things
done and get things moving. So praise is certainly due to him or her! But
then the wise head would always credit his/ her
--
**"Tony de Sa" < tonydesa at gmail dot com >**
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