The moment I entered Kant Darshan Public School - an institution being led by a retired Indian Air Force personnel - I could sense the discipline among the staff and was rather sure that this discipline must be getting percolated down to the students as well. The folks there were extremely proud to be an affiliated cbse school, although right now they are only up to class ten and are hoping for plus two affiliation. So it was evident that they were aware of the importance of getting an affiliation and the subsequent uniformity in standards it brings.
I commenced the program with a reading of the Preamble of the Constitution whilst also explaining to the teachers the need for sharpening our brains just like we sharpen our pencils. The Capacity Building Program (CBP) organised by the CBSE Centre of Excellence in this regard is basically similar as it enables us to sharpen our proverbial pencils and become more capable. The training programs - which are compulsory 50 hours for teachers every year - are a great step in that very direction.
The teachers present were all very receptive. They told me how they were catering to many students from families which had first generation school goers. At that juncture I touched upon the importance of getting close to the students so as to find out about any problems they may be facing at home. I also spoke about bringing up boys as gentlemen, this job I told them, is to be done by the primary and the secondary school teacher. This aspect came up because one of the teachers narrated that in some other school the senior boys were behaving like goondas in front of the external examiner and this had happened in Najafgarh itself. I reminded them it had nothing to do with the location just like it had nothing to do with the boys being tall. I made it crystal clear it was all about bringing them up in the right manner - right from the beginning - when they are in primary and secondary school. This is the job of every parent and every teacher of this country.
I spoke about the objective assessment of examinations right from the primary and the pre-primary sections so that when students reach class nine they are already familiar with the right way of assessment and that it is being done objectively and that there are no loose corrections or marks being awarded where they are not deserved. So a strict marking scheme has to be followed for uniformity of standards.
Apart from this, of course, we went through and completed the entire CBP - whether it be the role of CoE or the affiliation system, the various applications and initiatives, the curriculum, skill education, or the various ways of assessment and how they are done in the board exams with the CNS, HE, AHE, and Evaluators. I stressed on the fact how CBSE is doing a creditable job in ensuring transparency with the aid of digitalisation. Everything is online nowadays - be it the rules and regulations or even the results. The importance of CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) was also explained, as was the availability of all the weblinks that can be used to avail all the cbse resources. We ended it with the CBSE exam anthem which all of them thoroughly enjoyed. All the teachers promised to do their best and follow the directions given by CBSE. They felt motivated and believed that by pursuing their work as worship they will be able to give their best to the students - thereby shaping and inspiring them in their own way.
Outside, I saw some students of the school getting ready for a CBSE sports meet and noticed how the teachers had ensured they were all disciplined and raring to go. I extended my best wishes to them for the sports meet. Finally, I reminded the teachers that they are playing a very important role as the literacy in the surrounding areas isn’t that high and hence what they will do will have a far greater impact. The teachers told me how they have a very strong value system of ‘sewa’ and during COVID times they not only waived off the fees of the students but also sent rations to their students’ homes so that they got their food and nutrition. That really touched my heart and I couldn’t help but wonder how the vast expanse of the campus they have for satsang and for langar made me think of a Gurudwara - with its serenity and divinity. May God bless us all!
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