Moalims

Sir: When was the last time that you saw a teacher sporting a brand new Lexus? Or when was it that you heard of a teacher owning a ranch? The answer to this question is probably never. Although material possessions such as owning a luxurious home or driving an extravagant car might be petty change for people like the rich and famous, for teachers this kind of spending is literally an arm and a leg. Even simple necessities are out of reach with a teacher’s salary. The reason for this problem is the scanty budget allocated for the education sector. Teachers along with others in the school system are underpaid and are not being adequately compensated for their services. Instead of rewarding teachers with higher pay, the government is undermining their work.

In addition to a shortage of computers and Internet access, there is another problem. If we have computers in our school, we need teachers to educate students on how to use them. The only way we can do this is by hiring qualified teachers in combination with adequate pay. Teachers are not getting enough money and as a result many are becoming frustrated. Most teachers have to get a second job just to make ends meet.

Today we depend heavily on the Internet to provide us with fast information. It is used in high tech businesses, in homes and schools. Through the Internet we enable students to explore new and interesting issues. In addition to the books found in our local library, the Internet serves as a fundamental tool for education. This poses a major problem because while other students are building their skills and are learning more, others still rely on books and articles. Through the use of the Internet, students will not only be introduced to a wide array of topics and search engines but will also be able to familiarise themselves with technology.

Aside from teachers being underpaid, children are not receiving quality education. Since schools do not have enough money to hire new teachers, they are understaffed. Understaffed schools lead to unattended students. One teacher with a class of 30 or more students cannot attend to so many students. As a result some students are left without instruction and remain there with a confused daze on their faces. In order to eliminate this problem, we must put more money into schools and fight collectively for the cause. With most of their teachers retiring, they must work effectively to attract new teachers. How do they do this? The only answer to this is to raise their salary. Most people work harder when they have something to work for. When teachers are given enough money to pay for essentials, they will be able to work to the best of their ability. No matter how determined a teacher is, the facts remain the same. Devotion will not pay the bills nor will it enable teachers to become financially stable.

As we can see, the scanty budget is a growing problem that needs to be dealt with. While we are trying to save money, we are actually hurting our students. If our youth is our future, then we should do everything to supply them with enough information and qualified teachers. If we do not spend more money on teachers, we will eventually triple our shortage of teachers. This will lead to overcrowded classrooms. In order to eliminate this problem, we must collectively come together to make people aware of this struggle. As a future educator, I am hoping that I will be able live comfortably without worrying about whether or not I am going to need a second job to pay my bills. I want to be able to buy a car and not worry about where I am going to get the money for insurance. Furthermore, I want to be able to teach my students with books that are updated. With the help of the community, school officials, business organisations and government authorities, the education sector needs to be revolutionised.

MAHAM ASAD

Karachi