IGCAR director stresses the need for best people in teaching profession
KANCHEEPURAM: The director of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, Dr. Baldev Raj has stressed the need to have best people in teaching profession to help the country stride forward in the challenging World.
Delivering the presidential address at the inaugural function of ASSET-2009 (Augmenting School Science Education through Teachers), a three-day residential programme for school teachers at Anupuram in Kalpakkam on Wednesday, Dr. Baldev Raj said universally school teachers found a place in the heart of great achievers since they (teachers) had provided the impetus and inspiration in the young minds to aim for big things in their life.
Stating that it would not be possible for the teachers to kindle the quest for knowledge in younger generation unless they themselves were not strong in fundamentals, the IGCAR director called upon the teaching community to make best use of the programmes organised by IGCAR to help teachers acquaint themselves with changes in the field of science and technology.
“We at the IGCAR, functioning under the Department of Atomic Energy, are conducting various programmes to help teachers both at school and college-levels to get exposed to latest developments in order to make them prepared to answer intuitive questions posed by their pupil in classrooms. Because, generally anything and everything that is spelled out by a teacher is absorbed by school students”, he added.
Pointing out that it would be apt to get good persons for teaching, provide them freedom and listen to them, then transform their ideas into actions, Dr. Baldev Raj had also stressed the need to enlighten politicians about current challenges faced by the humanity, which might lead to a situation in the future, where there would be enough money but not food in view of depletion in the area of agriculture operations and rise in temperature. “They decide things for us at the Parliament. Unless they get in synergy with issues faced by the society, nothing can be achieved”, he said.
Inaugurating the ASSET-2009, the director, Institute of Mathematical Sciences, R. Balasubramaniam said students who could do well in competitive examinations have not yet been exposed to such opportunities. Teachers, particularly serving in rural areas, should come forward to help their pupil take up competitive examinations such as Science/Mathematical Olympiads and other National/State-level competitions.
The Joint Director of School Education, Raja Rajeshwari, Director, ROMG, IGCAR, Kalpakkam, G. Srinivasan, Head, TC and PAS, IGCAR, Chennai, J. Daniel Chellappa and others participated in the function. A total of 24 teachers from Madurai-region and 10 from schools in and around Kalpakkam would undergo the residential programme at Anupuram, Kalpakkam.