The New Nation - Internet Edition

Abdur Rahim

The process of giving education was informally introduced in the ancient period, At one stage of the development of the civilization, the formal and institutional education was introduced. The great men of every religion would also teach their followers religious thoughts and values. The sum and substance is that the formal education goes on between teachers and students. To earn knowledge a child has to be a student under the supervision of teachers for a specific period, though according to our great prophet Hazrat Mohammad (SM) the process of earning knowledge goes on from the cradle to the grave.

The invaluable and selfless service of a teacher can make his students self confident and well behaved. A real teacher is the symbol of sincerity, honesty and selflessness. As he possesses these virtues, his students are attracted by these qualities. Thus they build up their characters by following the principles and ideals of the teacher. In this way, a spiritual tie is created between a teacher and a student.

The relation between a teacher and a student is undoubtedly holy and it lasts for ever. A real teacher becomes very jubilant at the success of his students and he becomes extremely sad at the failure of his students because he treats his students to be his own children. But now-a-days an evident distance is being observed in the relation between a teacher and a student. There are many reasons of it.

It is the age of information technology-Every thing is changing with the advent of modern science. It is influencing the students also. The attitudes, ideas, and notions of the students are changing. Different aspects of information technology and recreation attract them very much. They are influenced by computer, VCD, Mobile phones, MP-3, MP-4 and by satellite TV Channels. I don't deny the importance of them. But students' attention is being diverted from study to these things. Many students are fond of going to the Cyber Cafe instead of attending the class. Students (especially in urban areas) are being addicted to different satellite TV programmes and many students watch these programmes indiscriminately during the study time. In this way a distance is being created between a teacher and a student.

So all the educational institutions should be turned into the centre of co-curricular activities. Co-curricular activities can play a vital role to improve the relation between a teacher and a student. But most of the educational institutions donot arrange competitions on debates, recitation, songs extempore speech, telling stories etc. They only hold the sports day at the beginning of the year. This is why, schools do not become attractive to the students.

In most of the schools emphasis is given only on the academic activities. Co-curricular activities are extremely neglected. Consecutive classes create monotony in the minds of the students. For want of co-curricular activities students cannot come closer to the teachers. Consequently, student-student, teacher student and even teacher-teacher relationship does not develop in the truest sense. This tri-dimensional relation can be strengthened by arranging cultural and sports activities and arranging study tour, picnic and excursion along side academic activities.

Every student possesses some merits. Some may be good at music, some at recitation, some at drama and some at dance. Students with these merits should be found out and evaluated and recognized through competitions. Many teachers also bear these qualities. If competitions or functions are arranged, the teachers and students can discover one another. Then mutual respect and love between teacher and teacher, student and teacher and even student and student increase.

This year we arranged a picnic at Nandan Park. In the picnic our ex-Headmistress, present Headmistress and the assistant Headmistress sang several songs spontaneously. They and other teachers also participated in different game shows and had to answer different interesting questions of the students. So, the students got over-joyous at this and their enjoyment knew no bounds. For the first time the students discovered the teachers differently and we also discovered some students having extra ordinary qualities. So we should ensure such an environment where the students can take part in different activities spontaneously without any fear and hesitation.

An individual teacher can also make the class attractive through gesture, body movement and by telling jokes and interesting stories relevant to the topics. Class rooms of every school should be enriched with modern teaching materials. Students' inertia and shyness should be removed and they should be made confident by using praising words. In this way the relation between a teacher and a student can be improved.