Passion for teaching has become thing of the past

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Teachers hold significant responsibility in shaping the future of the society. However, in recent years, there has been a growing concern that the concept of ‘teaching from the heart’ has been lost. Teachers seem to no longer care about their students’ scores, and are simply going through the motions of teaching.

One of the biggest indicators of this lack of passion among teachers is the declining literacy rates among students, with nothing being done to improve it. With teachers focusing more on meeting standardised test requirements and less on the individual needs of their students, the ability to read has become a thing of the past for many children.

Teachers may have become complacent, choosing to sit back and coast through their lessons, rather than putting in the extra effort to ensure that every student is receiving a quality education.

Further, even the attitude of students towards going to teachers’ colleges has shifted in recent years. Many now view it as an easy alternative to other career paths, seeing teaching as a job where they can get weekends and holidays off while still being paid. This attitude not only undermines the importance of teaching as a profession but also perpetuates the idea that anyone can become a teacher without having the necessary qualifications or passion for the job.

One of the first steps that can be taken is to improve the rigour of teacher training programmes, by increasing the requirements for entry into these programmes and providing more hands-on experience in the classroom. This will help to weed out those who are simply looking for an easy job, and ensure that only those who are passionate about education are entering the profession.

Additionally, evaluate teachers based on their performance in the classroom, their ability to engage students, and their willingness to go above and beyond to ensure that every student is successful. Educators can be held accountable for their actions and be encouraged to strive for excellence.

VENEKA NELSON