On 5 September 2026, India celebrates Teachers’ Day. While the day brings heartfelt wishes for teachers, a letter by veteran educator Neeraja Raghavan highlights deep‑seated issues that the nation overlooks throughout the rest of the year.
Key Developments Highlighted by the Teacher
- Raghavan questions whether parents should encourage children to become teachers when the profession is celebrated only once a year.
- She points out the burden of SIR duty on teachers, especially in government schools that are operating with a single teacher for months.
- She notes that teachers are excluded from committees shaping examination reforms and the broader National Education Policy drafts.
- Raghavan stresses that teaching is a skilled profession, not a task anyone can perform without proper training.
Important Facts from the Letter
- Raghavan has over two decades of experience in both mainstream and alternative schools.
- She is the Founder‑Director of Thinking Teacher, an organisation that works on teacher capacity building.
- Many government schools have been functioning with a single teacher for more than two months, leading to protests that were ignored.
- Current policy discussions on examination reforms and the NEP do not involve practising school teachers.
Exam Relevance
The letter touches upon several topics that appear in the UPSC syllabus. The role of teachers links to GS 1 (Culture) and the societal value placed on education. The exclusion of teachers from policy‑making connects to GS 2 (Polity), especially the functioning of committees, stakeholder participation, and the implementation of the NEP. Issues of workload, fairness, and professional dignity fall under GS 4 (Ethics), where the principle of “service before self” and the need for a dignified work environment are examined.
Way Forward – Suggested Measures
- Include practising teachers in the drafting committees of the NEP and examination reforms to ensure ground‑level realities are reflected.
- Address staffing shortages in government schools by recruiting additional teachers and providing incentives for rural postings.
- Re‑evaluate the allocation of SIR duty to prevent overburdening teachers and to maintain teaching quality.
- Promote continuous professional development through initiatives like Thinking Teacher, ensuring teachers acquire the specialised skills required for modern pedagogy.
- Raise public awareness that teaching is a skilled profession deserving respect throughout the year, not just on Teachers’ Day.
By addressing these concerns, India can move from a once‑a‑year celebration to a sustained, systemic uplift of the teaching profession, aligning with the goals of the NEP and the broader vision of inclusive, quality education.