GANDERBAL: School of Education (SoE), Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir) organized a one-day national seminar on “Role of Teachers in shaping 21st Century Global Students for a Viksit Bharat”to celebrate Teacher’s Day here on Thursday.
In his keynote Address, Prof. Ashok Aima, former Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Jammu, talked about the issues and challenges the country’s education system is facing with special reference to the rising educational unemployment/underemployment among youth and the responsibility of teachers in addressing this concern. He said, “competency and spirit of competitiveness among the students is one of the key factors in helping them to survive and thrive in this merit and technologically driven world and teachers at every level have to play an instrumental role in developing these attitudes/skills in their students. No degree can ensure your employability unless and until it is backed by the acquisition of 21st Century skills and teacher’s pedagogy needs to be guided by the needs of the 21st Century students”. He further observed, “the purpose of education is to promote human intelligence which, in turn, holds the key in transforming the national economy and, teachers again have to play a role in realizing both mental and material transformation”.
In his presidential address, Prof. Shahid Rasool, Dean Academic Affairs, said, “education is the bedrock of development of any nation and teachers are instrumental in making this developmental change possible.” He remarked that, “teacher’s role has radically changed from the ‘sage on the stage’ to the ‘guide by the side’ and NEP-2020 is seriously and realistically promoting this change in the role of the teacher in order to address the needs and challenges of the 21st Century world”. He highlighted the need for reviewing the existing curricula on a regular basis including the necessary reforms in students’ assessment and evaluation.
Earlier, Prof Syed Zahoor Ahmad Geelani, Dean & Head, SoE, observed that, “a society can only prosper when its teachers are doing justice in their line of duty or contribute their due to the society. They are change-makers and reform the future of the country. No one of us would have been here without the tireless and genuine efforts of our teachers”. He added, “NEP-2020 is a great policy, which if implemented in letter & spirit, has the potential to help us to realize the dream of Viksit Bharat”.
Prof Bilal Rafiq Shah, Principal, College of Teacher Education, MANUU, Srinagar, observed that, “teachers must be passionate and compassionate in their line of duty. “They need to treat students as their own children and hand hold them keeping in view the students’ strengths and limitations.” He emphasized that, “success of students is guaranteed if the teachers start going to their schools as fathers/mothers who normally show a keen concern in the progress of their own children”.
Dr Kaukab Azeem, Head, Deptt of Physical Education, said, “teacher is instrumental in moulding the character of students, developing critical thinking and ethical leadership and also pushing them to think independently.”
Deans, Heads and coordinators of departments, students and scholars attended the event. The Inaugural was followed by a Technical Session in which the faculty members and research scholars of SoE presented their research papers on the seminar theme. Sr. Asst Prof. Dr. Mohammad Sayid Bhat conducted the proceedings and Sr. Asst Prof. Dr. Saima Bashir proposed the vote of thanks. Dr. Firdous Ahmad Sofal, Sr. Asst Prof. organized the event and Asst Prof. Mr. Reyaz Ahmad Wani, was the rapporteur of the programme.