It is not just teaching anymore

The practice of teachers hitting the road to mobilise admissions to their respective schools is gaining ground in the city.

Braving the scorching sun, private and corporate school teachers troop into residential colonies looking for prospective students.

Armed with colourful brochures and pamphlets, they visit colonies, explaining to parents the benefits of admitting children to their schools.

The multi-hued, glossy brochures speak volumes of the school and its achievements, present and previous batches of students and elaborate profiles of teachers.

Incidentally, the ones who have been into this ‘advertising-spree’ in the past do it with ease.

Not willing to go on record that it is “a deviation from their original duties” and an extended work, most of them lament that the managements have set targets that ‘must’ be fulfilled. Continuation of the job is linked to the targets, they rue.

‘Lowering dignity’

Vijayawada Children Schools and Tutorials Association secretary A. Saikrishna says some schools are lowering the dignity of a respectable profession by forcing teachers to canvass on behalf of their schools.

Similar concept

The State government has also implemented more or less a similar concept with the slogan ‘Badi Baata’. But, United Teachers Federation (UTF) district secretary K. Mallikarjuna Reddy says it is necessary to ensure that no child is out of school.

“The programme has three advantages: it is helpful in the very existence of government schools in the long run, eliminates child labour, and offers nutritional food through mid-day meal scheme,” Mr. Reddy says.