Awards for teachers The Govt, of Goa has increased the awards from two to eight. More teachers are now in the fray, which makes it a wider group of recipient aspirants The prize money is raised to Rs25000= from Rs5000= in the past with a citation, a special felicitation and a reward for increase in service of one year from the Award age of retirement, which is the main benefit looked forward by the teachers The rarity of the award makes it prestigious, desirable . a crowning glory to flaunt public acknowledgement. It is easier and less controversial when the same recipients are also nominated for the National awards. The criteria as it is known is as follows 1-at least 20 years of teaching experience 2-selected teacher shall be actually present and serving in the school.3- Teacher`s reputation in the locality.4-Teacher`s academic efficiency and desire for improvement 5-Teacher`s general interest in extra curricular activities and love for children 6-teacher`s share in the social life of the community 7- outstanding innovative work by the teacher
The scale , if any, devised to measure the parameters will be more subjective as can be judged from aforesaid factors. It is a fact that many qualifying teachers stay away. The political recommendations, influence is finally the deciding factor Sometimes, the ADEI`s encourage teachers to apply with hopes, But it is seen that it is only a ploy to make up number of contestants Not all the teachers selected in the past can be classified as protegees of politicians, but many are and there no two opinions about it. The classification as secondary, primary, Govt employees, Headmasters, Principals, teachers of Higher secondary seems perfectly reasonable. What ways heavily is the new criteria of religious affiliation This distribution is really predominant in the final outcome Whether the number of years in each category is strictly followed is doubtful from the selections There is wide spread discontent among the teaching community and they know exactly the significance and the merit of the awardees They are not enamoured by such gimmicks. May be the general public thinks they are really deserving, There is an array of judges with unflinching background , but are they honestly independent to decide without covertly influenced? When a request was made to disclose the criteria of selection, they hid behind the cover of confidentiality. Have you nay time read the great qualities of selected teachers, other than their names and institutes they serve, a request was made to the education department to print the summaries of all awardees, so that it forms an inspiration for others to follow and emulate, But they will have none of it, simply because the truth will come out in the open from the closet, Further these teachers could form a formidable group for reformation and usher in desirable values, attitudes and changes with their gifted talents. They are all but forgotten after conferring the best teacher awards There are a large number of DSE and ABE schools but their number and contributions are inconsequential and the judgement of being pampered is passed by a person of doubtful educational merit himself. Do these meritorious teachers stand tall in the eyes of all teaching community? People simply confirm flowing with the tide for not being labelled as spoilt sport and harbouring sour grapes principle More teachers need be added in proportion to their numbers and the process must be transparent and decision and their achievements must be made public The controversy will erupt like a volcano with totally subjective criteria and political patronage The reason to keep the decision under wraps ensures discontent at bay in a non transparent manner utterly subjective outcomes of doubtful integrity At one of Headmasters gathering this is what two of them admitted openly. β I do not know why they selected meβ The other commented as β I do not know why they selected me, May be my postings in rural schools and my association with Lions club clinched the issue, An organisation recently had the students decide the awards to their teachers, At Chinchinim, the NGO, P. C. Trust awards founded teacher prizes and also those sponsored, occasionally by local Banks at Chinchinim In this way a small effort is made to appreciate, encourage and recognise the contribution of teachers, who will be forever left out of teachers awards at state and national level, however they might be deserving, but have no influence to promote their cause There is no alternative to bring out a folder, detailing the achievements of teacher awardees in the future at least, It is not an unreasonable, outrageous demands, but just , fair and, equitable Nelson Lopes Chinchinim