Page 10 - Teachers of India Stories

Shweta Erande

he lockdown has affected many
of us and changed our lives
Tforever. For some, definitely
more than others. There’s a very old
and renowned school which had
many teachers working with them
for several years. When the lockdown
happened, and schools had to shift to
online education, several parents pro-
tested and refused to pay the school
the term fee for their children. Due to
non-payment of fees by the parents
during the lockdown, the school has fired many teachers and non-es-
sential staff. My colleague’s husband happens to be one of the people
who lost his job for the same reason. With no other means of earning, he
was compelled to become a roadside vegetable vendor and has started
selling vegetables. Seeing their situation, I feel compelled to think, what
was the point of putting in so many years of hard work, when today,
when that teacher needs you, you did not even think twice before firing
him?
What about the dignity of that teacher, who has given 15 - 20 years of
his life to the school? Times are tough for everyone, but at such times,
schools also need to take care of their staff. They need to realise that the
ones nurturing our young minds - the teachers, need nurturing too! Oth-
erwise, there will be a time when many schools will end up losing good,
sincere, experienced teachers.

I have a message for schools:
Dear Schools, please empower your teachers by supporting them and
taking suitable measures to protect their families and livelihoods, else all
schools will be deprived of good educators soon.