8/7/2019 Our census our future12

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/our-census-our-future12 1/2

Our census our future

(Census and our schools)

The ongoing census, there is no doubt,is an essential part of Nation building process and all of us will agree that there is noclass of people who can do the job better than the teachers.Having admitted this let us look at the way enumerators andother personnel have been recruited.

In the month of December a circular was sent from thedepartment of Education that no exams should be conducted inthe months of January ,February and March 2011 on account of Census duty. Never mind the fact that annual second mid termexams are scheduled for January. Then, end of January teachersare called for census duty as enumerators. Included among these,are teachers, teaching std X, (preparing for the Board Exams.)and teachers of std IX too. After great effort on the part of headsof schools, some teachers are relieved. What was amazing wasthat recruitment had been done extremely partially. Someschools no teachers had been recruited , from others therecruited number was between 50% to 70% and it is understoodthat from government schools even 100% teachers had beenrecruited! This, during a period when exams are round the corner.

Now the question arises whether the census work could be donewith no educational loss to the students? Agreed, census workhas to be done but can we not ensure that we do not sacrificetoday for a better tomorrow? Did our law makers intend this when

it was decided that teachers could be recruited for census duty?

Here are some ways in which present confusion and chaos couldhave been avoided in and an efficient census could also havebeen taken.

1) Co-operation between the Education department and theCollectorate and an understanding of the available staff thatwould be required.

2) Recruiting of that staff which would cause minimumeducational loss to the students

3) A meeting of the heads of schools to recruit maximum staff and ensure that all schools share the work.

The period of the census () has been a period of great confusionfor some schools while others were able to continue normallyresulting in a sense of dissatisfaction and a sense of injustice.How the students will be affected, only time will tell. Firstgeneration learners who depend solely on the teacher for revision

8/7/2019 Our census our future12

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/our-census-our-future12 2/2

and guidance are the worst hit as there has been no revision timeand individual attention. Children depend on the final exams tomake a final effort to get promoted to the next class and theabsence of a teacher for a month makes a great difference tosuch students. Let us not ignore the spirit of the law while payinggreat heed to it’s body. “Let the hawk perch and let the eagleperch” I say.