Survey finds Mumbai teachers lack EQ

Gone are the days when teachers were authoritative figures who could make naughty children fall in line with just a scathing look.

Today, teachers are so tightly wound up that they can barely control their own emotions, much less those of trouble-making students, a survey conducted by the SNDT University revealed.

The survey found that 40% of city teachers have a very low emotional intelligence. This renders them incapable of controlling students and maintaining discipline. Low emotional intelligence makes teachers anxious, easily aggravated and depressed, and they become dependent on others to make their decisions, the survey stated.

Of the 600 teachers from 100 private, unaided, English-medium schools tested for emotional intelligence, 240 teachers showed an inability to identify, assess, and control their emotions. They were also unable to deal with the emotions of their students and colleagues.

“We were shocked that teachers were unable to handle their own emotions. We understand that teachers today face tremendous stress from school authorities as well as students’ parents. But they need to be able to master their emotions. A teacher who cannot control her emotions is incapable of empathising with students,” said Arundhati Chauhan, co-ordinator, department of education, SNDT.

The survey also revealed that most of the teachers admitted that they often vent their frustrations on children by meting out corporal punishment and using abusive words with schoolchildren.

“After teaching for six straight hours, our patience wears thin. I find myself snapping at students to control the classroom,” said a teacher from a school in Dadar.

The government tried to train teachers in emotional intelligence. “The workshops failed as they are not conducted regularly,” said Chauhan.