I have an experience of 30 years college teaching and being a principal of a college through which I have gathered facts to why students bunk classes. College students are all in adolescent age an age of storms and stress and emotional immaturity. They have to be handled with care. They are fragile teachers and parents hold the responsibility of handling with care this fragile package. A larger percentage of parents being illiterate or unaware, the responsibility lies on the teachers. The teacher of today is far behind the teachers of the yesterdays who were devoted and took keen interest in the welfare of each individual , ate with them played with them had arguments in a friendly manner. There was no fear or hesitations to ask a question keeping in view all rights of respect and discipline. Today not to mention a few teachers most of the teachers do not have time even to answer a question that arises in the young minds. This age is an age of curiosity to know to learn to explore and to channelize energies, but the teacher of to day complains of the huge number of students in their classes, who bunk if each teacher would encourage students to come to them for the solution of their problems and give some time outside class they will be the most popular teachers with a class full of students.
Adolescent age is in, search of ideals to follow; teachers have to be the ideals. Adolescent age is an age of learning they adore people who have abundant knowledge to quench their thirst. Teachers are role models for them .A teacher of today except a few are like blank papers with blurred writings on them they seem to have forgotten even what they had learnt long be fore as the process of re sharpening of knowledge is decreasing day by day hence there is a self made gap between the teacher and the taught as on one side is the curiosity to learn and on the other lack of .knowledge , teachers try to be away from students to avoid embarrassment and hence the students keep away from such teachers.
Teacher student understanding is diminishing to day. I know a student who graded very low in our institutions but luckily went abroad and is doing well with flying colors, is being loved and respected by the teachers, I asked him about the change he said here teachers are so concerned about every student they are so punctual devoted ready to help outside class time and each minute is important every one is rushing in to make for the time there is strict discipline no one can be late no one can miss classes there are rules of attendance from top to bottom every one is on duty from early morning till evening And hence all the students are in their classes. outside classes they have sessions with their teachers in the libraries or tea rooms. Why would a student run away from classes when they have what they want but unluckily the system in most of our institutions is very different our teachers are also rushing only to be free to rush for their homes punctuality is rare the use of library very seldom missing classes a frequent practice .Most hated is the principal who has all the traits of punctuality devotion and duty most appreciated is the head who gives them liberty to be out of discipline the..Unity of such malpractice in principals and teachers lead to a great loss of the students resulting in poor attendance in college institutions. And increase of attendance in coaching centers and students inn thus laying a burden on their poor parents
When I became a principal of a college the first step I took was to place a complaint and suggestion box outside my office .I announced in the assembly that from now on my students will put their complaints or suggestions in the box for the better working of the college. From the next day paper chits came pouring. In. My favorite duty was to read all the complaints in the afternoon every day .There were complaints from the junior student that the seniors were miss be having they had problems in their homes they complained of teachers favoritism some complained that teachers talked more about their homes than studies they complained about teachers being late and irregular some had serious home problems some of the students were being harassed when they walked to college some had complained about canteen supplies and water problems and hundreds of problems were stated. These problems were looked upon and when I used to announce that certain problems have been solved I could clearly see their smiles and shine in their eyes while they clapped with glee it gave me an incentive to work more devotedly for my loving students .It was a relationship I enjoyed most. But as soon as I retired and left the college the new head instantly removed the box as defaulter teachers never liked the idea for reasons we can very well understand.
Adolescent age is a wonderful age full of curiosity energy enthusiasm and with a will to work to learn to serve; we must give them a role model, knowledge and awareness which is the duty of a teacher and the heads of institutions. Will they kindly mend their ways? God will never forgive us as we handle generations and generations.
About writer
Professor Rehna Yakoob is a teacher, social worker poet and writes artciles for different news papers.
Readers can reach her at:
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Tags: absent, classes, student
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