Odisha HRD

14 Writeup

• 1. jagmohan swain  |  October 8th, 2009 at 3:49 am

  I am positive that this esteemed panel will be able to draft a well thought out road map for state’s higher education.Vocational institutes such as ones started by JSL which imparts training to students every six months in software & hardware technology, dress designing & fashion technology, mobile repairing and English speaking can be replicated all over orissa.Vocational training is as much need of hour as is higher education.Roughly 50% orissa students don’t go beyond matriculation.Either we bring standard down to let more people graduate as Andhra is doing or provide vocational training to these students.I think it’s imperative that we plan for this too.

  Orissa traditionally been found wanting in English.Some initiative must be taken to strengthen this.Communication is key, oriyas can’t afford to limit themselves in orissa anymore.
  If they come out of state they either speak hindi or English.Since oriyas don’t need hand holding to learn hindi i say we teach our kids english from class 1 with emphasis on spoken part.

• 2. pravanjan choudhury  |  October 8th, 2009 at 9:05 am

  Respected Sir,
  It is nice to see the prominet names in the panel but my concern is as long as our primary education will remain out of order how we expect a constructive higher education system.we need to start teaching engilsh from class 1 and communicative english from sixth onwards to compete in global system. A more practical approach needed to our science education. More emphasis should be given on extra curricular activities on our primary education system. At least math and science should be taught in english from sixth onwards.
  thanks and
  regards
  pravanjan

• 3. R.K. Ghosh  |  October 8th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

  Curriculum design, program structuring and planning all are as important as delivery mechanism. The most important aspect which is missing any planning as I have observed over years is the lack of focus on delivery mechanism. I hope the committee dwells more on this aspect than any such exercises done in the past. The emphasis should be how the graduating students are prepared to handle career related stresses and become successful. One can not produce world class product using only rusty junk equipment. Similarly, with ill-trained faculty, and ill-equipped infrastructure any proposal document will only remain a distant dream. The numbers can only meet requirement of statistical surveys and will have no impact whatsoever in real terms.

• 4. S Samal  |  October 10th, 2009 at 5:04 am

  Chitta babu, First of all many congratulations to you for your new role. Just a few points that I feel are important for our education system.

  1. Communication skills – Its vital that our students are well trained to communicate effectively . Its not about just learning English. Its about expressive skills, listening skills, creative writing, emotional skills etc etc.. Every disciplince should have a faculty for effective communication.

  2. Flexibility in Subjects Taught – In the current system, a student can choose either science or Arts or commerce. However, a Math student may be interested to study in Economics or Geography. More subject choices should be included such as Environmental science, Government and Politics, Drama, Film studies,Media studies,Photography, Classical Civilization etc…

  3. Confidence building – One thing I notice is that odias lack confidence when they go outside. So much so odias dont talk to fellow odias in Odia in front of others. I dont understand the reason. May be there is something lacking in our education system. Or may be Media to be blamed as Orissa always get negative coverage in national media. Students must be aware of Orissa’s strong culture, Arts, Music, folk dance, cuisine and ofcourse our unique traditions. We must all feel proud of them.

  4. – Value System – Ethics and values must be included in our education system. Western countries are thriving because of value system such as Rule of law, punctuality, respect to contractual obligation,respect for the public good,attitude to corruption, Care and sacrifice for our community etc etc.

  More Later…

• 5. Dr.Sarat Chandra Das  |  October 11th, 2009 at 11:58 pm

  I must congratulate our Higher Education Minister Sj. Debiprasad Mishra for taking initiation to maintain quality in higher education of our state. After 60 years of independence no substantial steps have been taken for development planning of higher education. Our soul aim should be for quality at all levels ie primary secondary and higher secondary levels. We have infrastructure but no teacher. Some places teachers but no infrastructure. This parity should be eliminated.My humble suggestion is to go for regular assessment of teacher activities. may be by students, by guardians, by administrative body.Accountability must be fixed on the person concerned. No doubt there are many good teachers their academic interest should be protected. Like providing funds for research, attending seminars, scopes for organising work shop at regular intervals. Appreciation at some level for his/her outstanding contributions. Another important aspect should be kept in mind uniformity and synchronisation of our course structure from elementary level to higher level should be maintained.These are my personal feelings out of my 32 years of teaching experience. There are a lot of things to discuss I will put it next. I thank you for this type of brilliant concept to uplift the odiya swaviman at International level

• 6. R.K. Ghosh  |  October 12th, 2009 at 10:20 am

  It seems society expects only from teachers. There is always a talk of accountability and grading by students when it comes to evaluate teachers. But unfortunately no one ever reacts that the salaries which teachers draw is just a pittance. The babus (read IAS) and the politicians squander millions, corrupt the society yet the reaction of society in general, if ever, is only muted. The politicians always boast about peoples’ judgement (“vote”). They have an interest to keep the subjects uneducated. Having said that, I also believe that evaluation for teachers should be done in regular basis. However, we must understand that environment of the past (gurukul days) can only be visualized in dreams. The teachers stay in society, and have families. Their family members do have aspirations very much like others in the society. So commensurate with the consumerism of present time, we must be prepared to pay the very best to the teachers. A case in point is the situation witnessed in AIIMS. The union health minister personally requested the doctors (professors in AIIMS) to stay back for the sake of AIIMS standard. Yet the exodus has not stopped, all good doctors have left AIIMS. Why the society or the govt have not waken up to this hard reality? You can not get a porsche if you are prepared only to pay the price of a Maruti. Recently, we took a feedback from freshers in IIT and found neither the parent nor the ward will like to do a Ph. D. or would like to take up teaching as a career option. Sometime back I saw an article which outlines the state of research in computer science in India. The country produces just about 40-45 Ph. D. annually, out of which about only 10 of these from IISc, IITs or TIFR. Whereas, there is demand to start B. Tech CSE in every new institutions. Sometime I wonder how these new institutions get qualified teachers to run specialized courses. To talk about teaching accountability under these scenarios is not only futile but ambitious indeed. The society must learn to pay teachers their due before expecting to build a responsive and competitive system of higher education.

• 7. Dr.Sarat Chandra Das  |  October 13th, 2009 at 9:04 am

  I am satisfied with the observation of my learned reader regarding my comments on trends of Higher education which depends on teachers. Delivering teaching is not a material which should be counted by how much money you get rather how much social recognition you get and simultaneously your self satisfaction. Accountability in professions should not be measured in terms of money or material. It is the professional ethics how we discharge. No doubt there is very much parity in pay structures of babus (IAS) with a teacher in an educational institution. But the quantum of work discharged by both the groups should be examined impartially. If there is no account there will be no risk, no fruit. Let us think in terms of ethics for a profession may be a teacher, may be a doctor, may be a bureaucrats and think what we deliver to our country and society.

• 8. R.K. Ghosh  |  October 13th, 2009 at 7:23 pm

  I think there is a a disconnect in our thinking, if we believe that teachers should remain impoverished. Satisfaction can not flow by social recognition while being a pauper.
  Social recognition is intangible, if at all. Recently, we witnessed a professor was killed by political activists in MP. The case against the perpetrators were dismissed for lack of evidences. The professor’s son was left wedging a lone lost battle. Society remained a mute spectator. So, when we talk of ethics it should not be confined to just a few minions of the society like teachers. The nexus of bureaucrats and politicians have crossed all barriers of “Ethics”.

  The quantum of work is not related to hours of physical work, but by the value of the work. In technical teaching one needs to put at least 5 hours for every hour of teaching. Besides, good teachers should also put in substantial amount of time in research, guiding students. Without that no teacher will be able to add the extra bit cutting edge to the knowledge that he/she imparts to the students. So, to compare working hours of teacher with that of bureaucrats is like comparing “apples with oranges”.

  Nevertheless, deadwood exist in every profession, and needs purging on regular basis. However, purging can not be done in isolation. In developed countries like US the concept of tenured position can be found only in teaching positions. The salaries are also quite competitive to attract good talent to teaching. The policy makers in US have realized the specific needs of education sector and have placed educators in different level as opposed to those in other professions. So, the entire gamut of problem should be studied carefully. We can hope to get good teachers if sufficiently large number of good students take up teaching as a career options. Unless the trend is captured by policy makers, every effort will go down the drain.

• 9. Abhisek  |  October 14th, 2009 at 1:29 pm

  Sir you have been on the forefront of the current education revolution in Orissa. Though, one may not openly take positions on issues publicly, but hopefully would influence the outcome with an education model which will bind the State together; may be on the lines of Rajasthan. Not only in the creation of more clusters of education but giving a look at the pathetic state of the Utkal, Berhampur and Sambalpur Universities. This aside, making some premier colleges as unitary universities, establishment of prominent research labs in Tier II cities etc should be considered. There is lot of expectation from this task force and it should come with some vital suggestions to make innovation as the cornerstone of our education system.

• 10. Bijoy  |  October 14th, 2009 at 6:58 pm

  Posts written by both Prof. Ghosh and Dr. Das are quite interesting. The scenario in our state is quite scary. Amply shown by the admission in engineering colleges. In the name of Higher Education “SHOPS” being opened every now and then. But where are the qualified teachers? The environment paints a very rosy picture. Honestly speaking is there any one who will volunter to send his/her ward to study in these so called Institutes/SHOPs? Then for whom these Institutes are? What purpose do they serve?
  We are going in quantity way than quality way. We need to stop all these populism and look for solutions which are sustainable. Our planners need to think seriously about it.
  Ofcourse I am cynical about all the developments in Orissa. If people out there are happy with the developments then be it…

• 11. Bijoy  |  October 14th, 2009 at 7:08 pm

  Posts written by both Prof. Ghosh and Dr. Das are quite interesting. I think the higher education scenario in our state is quite scary. Amply shown by this years’ admission in engineering colleges. In the name of Higher Education “SHOPS” being opened every now and then. But where are the qualified teachers? The environment paints a very rosy picture. Honestly speaking is there any one who will volunter to send his/her ward to study in these so called Institutes/SHOPs? Then for whom these Institutes are? What purpose do they serve?
  We are going in quantity way than quality way. We need to stop all these populism and look for solutions which are sustainable. Our planners need to think seriously about it.
  Ofcourse I am cynical about all the developments in Orissa. If people out there are happy with the developments then

• 12. Dr.Sarat Chandra Das  |  October 14th, 2009 at 11:56 pm

  Vision-2020 in Higher education will certainly give a frame work for our future education system.Let us have a plan. Let us think a head We will definitely achieve.Educational planning without educationsts is meaning less. Present task force will no doubt is formed with full of top class educationst those who have lot of contributions to the educational arena . But who is to carry it out. No doubt we teachers and students. If our effort shall not be at par of the members expectation than the project will not be successful.Let us think the interest of the nation first than ourself. Let us frame out our planning not compared with any advanced countries. Again let us introspect ourself what we do for our profession. Let us think a positive planning that will save us from present educational disaster.

• 13. Sarat Chandra das  |  October 17th, 2009 at 6:03 pm

  My humble request to all learned members of task force to synchronise our curriculum starting from elementary to University level. Most of the time it is felt that there is no coherence of topic selection while course curriculum is framed. Another important part shall be considered the course design shall emphasize to local needs. Like courses on steel manufacture, enviroment safety, pollution free atmosphere and many more. Present UGC syallabus adopted in our state needs a major change as we need more localised syallabus so that our students can grasp it and also can utilise in their job market. More in my next view

• 14. Bijoy  |  October 18th, 2009 at 1:17 pm

  I have few observations regarding Dr. Das’s post:

  * In this competitive age, If curriculum is designed taking local needs, then our students will be misfit. Rather it should have Glocal view.

  * Curriculum is developed based on requirement & need. In my understanding when someone refers to the curriculum developed by a advanced country then that become benchmark for our planners which our system has to achieve.

  In addition curriculum design is a dynamic activity and needs input from various stake holder. This has to evolve over the time period.
  If we really want to become advanced state/country then we have to follow someones’ foot step. It needs creative thinking and can be achieved by benchmarking only.

  * Coming back to contribution of a teacher to society/community developement is a debatable question. Too many idealistic statements prompted me to write this. In my view profession can not be pursued in an empty stomach. In this age of materialism everyone has his necessity to fulfill, how does a teacher maintain balance?? Hence society has equal responsibility to look after the one who choses this difficult profession.