Heramb Kulkarni, a teacher by profession and author by choice, is literally facing the wrath of his colleagues and the teachers’ association.
In his book, Heramb Kulkarni exposed the poor state of primary education in tribal areas
MUMBAI: Heramb Kulkarni, a teacher by profession and author by choice, is literally facing the wrath of his colleagues and the teachers’ association. Kulkarni has been at the receiving end ever since his book — ‘Shaala Ahe, Shikshan Nahi’ — was published in November 2007. The research based book highlighted the deteriorating level of primary education in the tribal districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada.
However, matters came to head during a 10 day training camp held across the state from April 25 to May 5, 2008, for around two lakh primary school teachers.
As part of the training, all teachers were asked to write a 300 word essay about the book, which was part of their reference material.
“Most of the reactions were very harsh and few of them even abused me for defaming the teaching profession. But I did receive several calls congratulating me for giving a realistic picture of the existing primary education in our state,” said Kulkarni.
However, following the outrage after the book was published, Kulkarni decided not to admit his son in a government school, fearing that he may be given a hard time by the teachers.
“Also the standing committee of Ahmednagar Zilla Parishad has passed a resolution for cancellation of my deputation. The Sikshan Samiti has passed a resolution refraining me from writing anything regarding the education system,” said Kulkarni, adding, that the Maharashtra State Teachers Committee has demanded that his book be banned.
Shaala Ahe, Shikshan Nahi is the outcome of Kulkarni’s visit to around 200 schools in six tribal districts — Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Yavatmal, Nandedm Chandrapur, Melghat in Vidarbha and Marathwada. Originally with school education, Kulkarni was sent on deputation on Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan, the central government’s project under which the state gets annual funding of Rs10,000 crore for imparting education.
However, during the course of his research, Kulkarni found several discrepancies in the schools. Not only did he find several schools shut, Kulkarni claimed that he was surprised to find several teachers in an inebriated state.
In his128 page book, Kulkarni also claimed that the dropout rate in tribal schools was around four per cent higher than the national rate, which is currently at 74 per cent.
And though there have been several critics of his book, Kulkarni is of the firm belief that the major reason behind the dropout rate is because the students aren’t able to follow what is being taught. He claimed that most students even lacked the basic know-how to solve simple mathematical equations.
However, the teachers’ association has alleged that the book is a part of a conspiracy hatched by a few people against the government owned schools.
Prabhakar Arde, chief of the Maharashtra State Teachers Committee, said “This book is being used as an instrument to shut down government schools and to facilitate private institutions. The book was a pre-planned conspiracy to show our schools in a poor light, hence we have been opposing it.”
“Though, I don’t deny the factual conditions mentioned in the book, but defaming the fraternity publicly is demoralizing,” he added.
g_surendra@dnaindia.net
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}