SHILLONG: The role of teachers in the digital age is different from what it was in the previous centuries and there should be a change in teaching methodologies.
This was felt by executive director of Bethany Society, Carmo Noronha, as he spoke to The Shillong Times on the changing role of teachers, education and students. Bethany Society deals with students who are differently abled.
“There is a misunderstanding that technology will replace teachers. People should reflect and debate the role of teachers in the digital age.
The teachers’ role is to convert information to knowledge and knowledge to wisdom,” he said. Noronha further said young people need facilitators and mentors and they need to start thinking and make decisions.
“There is a role of information and technology for thinking,” he said. According to him, teachers should not only “cover” the textbooks but “uncover” them. “Teachers are designers, the focus is on learning and not teaching,” he added.
The director believes that becoming a teacher is as competitive as becoming an engineer. “We need to have the best brains in the country if people go for teaching,” he said.
Noronha said the students at Bethany Society will celebrate and honour their teachers on Teachers’ Day tomorrow.
Advocating the need for inclusive education, he said, “As an organisation, we believe all children should study together. They have the right to study with other children and promote diversity.”
“Any form of segregation, be it caste, creed, good or bad performance, is going against the value of diversity,” Noronha said.
Commenting on the present times, he said, “What needs to change is the system. The system is disabled and not the people. The system needs a drastic overhaul.”
He pointed out that the system should work towards giving opportunities as there were many ways of reaching the same goals.
“A system that is good for persons with disabilities (PWDs) is a better system for all,” Noronha said.
Stressing on the loopholes of the current system of education, he said it was “totally irrelevant and children get bored easily.”
