Teaching Profession in Nepal

 

Teaching Profession in Nepal

Whenever I come across the word under-rated, teaching profession in Nepal comes to my mind first. Going from one classroom to next from one period to another speaking on top of our voices, yes teachers we are the unsung heroes. Although, I have not undertaken a career in teaching yet, I have had a couple of months experience as a creative writing and an IELTS teacher which has pretty much given me an insight to the teaching industry here in Nepal. I will now briefly explain the types of teachers at different level and the problems they face.

Despite the fact that no job is big or small and teachers tutoring at all levels are equal, professors and assistant professors in the University are considered to be at the top of the teacher’s hierarchy. With years of experience and expertise on a subject matter professors are geniuses, whose guidance help groom otherwise ordinary into a wise person.

The primary purpose of all teacher’s job is to impart knowledge among students and most of the instructors do it brilliantly. Whenever a teacher enters the classroom the only thing in his/her mind will be to articulate the content better than how they did it yesterday. However, without sufficient financial returns it is difficult for not just teachers but every employee to put up their best performance at work. Salary is an important factor when it comes to work motivation and is the medium of exchange for the services rendered by means of which wage-earners earn a crust. Also, salary is an indicator that employees use to measure the value that an organization places on its personnel.

Getting back to University professors in Nepal, let me make a reference of the oldest and elite varsity of Nepal, the Tribhuvan University (TU). Known for its academic excellence in the early 2000s, TU today is selling its old reputation to thousands of students across the country. However, the very architects of this reputation–professors are ignored when it comes to financial incentives. The average salary for professors in the US and other developed countries of the world gross well over a hundred thousand dollars annually. On the other hand, professors of TU have a monthly salary of mere fifty five thousand. Sustenance on an inflated economy as of today with this revenue is no less than a challenge for the professors and is nearly impossible especially if they are the only one working in the family. Now you might oppose me by telling that the academicians get a permanent government job and exploit state services but it is a pity to mention that there is a momentous difference in the payment and services of TU professors and Civil servants. One chief secretary of civil services locally known as Nijamati Sewa, whose position is on the same level as that of a professor earns seventy thousand monthly not to mention the additional allowances he/she receives. It is a matter of disgrace that the best of the minds such as professors join institutions such as TU to be treated with disparity as such from the government itself. It is totally understandable why professors might develop an inferiority complex amidst these discriminations and rifts in the amount of respect received from the society as opposed to Nijamati jagireys.

The next type of sophists in Nepal are the government school teachers. They are the most privileged of teachers because they rarely have to take classes, for most of the pupils enroll in private schools. These teachers have their job at most times very close to their homes and go to the school only for their biometrics.

Now come the most pressurized of gurus, the private school teachers. Mostly the tutors in private schools are young and talented people who lack any teaching experience and are forced to settle for a meager stipend or experienced and veterans who are well past the age of 35 for getting into a government job. The pressure for delivering in private institutions is immense for these individuals and the pay is not very good either. On top of that, these schools have stringent regulations relating to the dress code and appearance of their teachers. We might have seen some of our teachers wear the same outfit to class every day and often it might have been a topic for us to make fun of. However, a person’s appearance has a lot to do with his/her quality of life and with the financial turnover from teaching in Nepal, one can hardly live a quality life.

Our next type of teachers are the seasonal ones, like me. We never think of teaching full-time but have some affliction towards pedagogy and contribute an hour or two for some cash. These teachers usually provide home tuition or teach a small group of students and receive considerable monetary gains for their efforts but not without having to put up with lengthy bargaining with parents for hourly rates or a general reluctance from students to pay their dues in time.

Teaching is one of the noblest of professions and teachers not only do educate students but help bring the best out of themselves and make him/her a responsible and a confident person. Although, there are many different types of teachers at different levels in our country, they all share a common predicament– financial woes. I think we as a person must not haggle over the reasonable rate teachers charge for their time if we are ready to pay the rate a plumber or an electrician charges for their repair. We as a society and nation must not segregate while respecting and commemorating our professors from other civil servants. Our collective efforts can help teachers feel proud of themselves and further motivate them to provide the best didacticism.

Thank you for your time to read this article. I hope you have a great day ahead. Lots of love <3