Our schools are being asked to do too much. And because of this, our children are losing out.
Every week, schools get new instructions-health programmes, cleanliness drives, competitions, surveys, awareness campaigns, and reports to fill. Each one sounds good on its own. But all put together, they are taking up most of the school day.
WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING:
Teachers now spend a lot of their time:
-Filling up various forms, reports and data sheets;
-Taking and uploading photographs as evidence of activities;
-Organising and participating in various events, competitions and programmes;
-Attending frequent meetings, trainings, workshops and review programmes;
-Registering on and updating multiple online portals and mobile applications;
-Completing online trainings, surveys and reporting requirements;
-Collecting, compiling and repeatedly submitting information and data to different authorities; and
-Performing various administrative and programme-related duties in addition to their regular responsibilities.
Because of this, they have less time for the most important part of their job-teaching children, helping weak students, and simply paying attention to each child.
A DANGEROUS REALITY WE CANNOT IGNORE
What makes this even more alarming is a fact we must face honestly: Ukhrul district has less than 50% of its sanctioned teacher posts actually filled. This means our schools are already running on half the strength they are supposed to have and whatever few teachers we do have are further burdened with endless programmes, reports, and events, leaving almost no time for actual teaching.
It is a dangerous situation to put forward openly, but it must be said: our innocent students are paying the price for a problem that is not their fault. They are being deprived of quality education through no error of their own, and this should concern every single one of us. A district where children grow up without proper teaching is a district without a future and that is a danger we cannot afford to ignore.
WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE
1. Fill the vacant teacher posts urgently.
With less than half the sanctioned teachers in place, this is the most immediate and serious gap that needs to be addressed.
2. Protect teaching time.
A teacher’s main job is to teach. Classroom time should not be disturbed for things that are not truly necessary.
3. Stop doing the same work again and again.
Many programmes aim at the same thing-health, cleanliness, awareness-but are done separately. These should be combined into one simple plan.
4. Reduce the number of competitions.
A few meaningful competitions are enough. Too many become a burden instead of a benefit.
5. Judge success by real learning-not by photos or reports.
A school is successful when children learn well-not when many events are held or pictures are uploaded.
6. One proper plan for the whole year.
All departments that send programmes to schools should sit together, decide what is truly needed, and give schools one yearly calendar-instead of constant new instructions.
A CALL TO EVERYONE
This is not a problem the government alone can solve, and it is not a problem we can solve alone either. We need to come together-the government, NGOs, CSOs, and student organisations-and raise our voice for our children before it is too late.
This is not against any government, NGOs, CSOs, student organisation programme. It is simply this:
Give our teachers their time back. Fill the vacant posts. And give our children the education they deserve.
Right now: Too few teachers + too many programmes Less teaching Children fall behind
What we need: Enough teachers + fewer, well-planned programmes More teaching A better future for our children
Our children are our future. If we do not act now, we may lose something that cannot be recovered later. Let us save our children, our future-together, before it’s too late.
Thank you.
R. Shaiza
The Writer is a concerned Citizen of Ukhrul District, Manipur.
