Need to improve proficiency among teachers stressed in Nellore

Nellore: Educationis have felt that the government at first should focus its attention on improving the proficiency among teachers. The educationis have expressed their opinion as the State government is going ahead with introducing English as medium of instruction.

The State Council of Educational Research and Training conducted proficiency tests for the teachers of all subjects in 13 districts of the state in 2016. Nellore district was at the bottom of all district as far as English proficiency was concerned.

English teachers in Model Schools too failed during the test conducted. The online test was for evaluating abilities of reading, vocabulary, grammar, expression, learning process, writing, the arrangement of words, and teaching methodology for 100 marks. Around 3,400 teachers participated, of them 160 were primary teachers of the Model Schools in Nellore.

But, pathetically, teachers from the district could secure only 12th position across the State with around 49 per cent of marks. Teachers obtained only 41 per cent in teaching methodology which is crucial for language teaching. "It is an accident test for teachers in government schools now.

Majority dropouts are due to fear of mathematics and English. Under these circumstances how they can learn the subjects in English and write the examinations without fear? There will be more dropouts when compared to the previous years and the first step the government should focus on improving the skills of teachers," said a senior teacher from Tada Mandal.

Even though the district officials have organised orientation sessions for the teachers, there has been no substantial development since the SCERT was not conducted any such proficiency test after 2016 for evaluating the efficiency of the teachers.