Teachers’ Day: A Reflection on the Present and a Call for Change
Surajit Debnath
September 3, 2025
(Teacher with 15 Years of Experience of teaching in KVS, Tripura Government Schools, and Vidyajyoti CBSE Schools) Teachers’ Day is not only a celebration of teachers but also a moment to reflect on the relationship between students and teachers, the state of our education system, and the values we are imparting to future generations. With 15 years of teaching experience in institutions like Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), Tripura Government Schools, and Vidyajyoti CBSE Schools, I have witnessed drastic changes in the mindset and behaviour of students, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, most of these changes are negative and need urgent attention.
Before the pandemic, students were more disciplined, respectful to their teachers, and valued classroom interaction. After corona, however, I observed a dramatic negative change.
Students are no longer serious about studies or discipline. For example, homework and assignments are often taken lightly, unlike in earlier times when students would compete to complete them neatly on time.
Almost every child, from Class V onwards, is glued to mobile screens, not for learning but for games, social media, and entertainment. This has destroyed concentration and classroom attention.
Today, respect for teachers is missing. Earlier, students would stand up when a teacher entered the room, but now many remain indifferent. Students react sharply to even small corrections, showing impatience and arrogance.
Teachers are doing their jobs sincerely, but students are not connected with teachers anymore. They have become self-centered, running only after marks rather than true knowledge. For example, when we teach moral values or social lessons, many students ignore them, but when exams approach, they rush to coaching centers for “important notes” and “shortcuts.”
Even guardians are not helping; instead of guiding children towards holistic growth, most parents are busy chasing the “brand name” of teachers or famous coaching centers. As a result, the ancient guru-shishya relationship of mutual respect and dedication is almost lost.
The habit of reading books is dying. Earlier, students would read storybooks, newspapers, and general knowledge materials, but now most of them only read “PDF notes” or “WhatsApp study materials.” Similarly, both teachers and students are losing their social participation. For example, teachers once led cultural events, community service, and sports with students, but now both sides are withdrawing from such activities.
In Tripura, the situation is worse because of low teacher salaries. Tripura pays one of the lowest salaries in India to its teachers, which discourages bright students from choosing teaching as a career. For instance, many of my own students who wanted to become teachers are now choosing banking, IT, or corporate jobs for financial stability.
Moreover, current teachers in Tripura are forced to spend significant time on non-teaching duties like election work, census surveys, and office paperwork, which reduces their classroom teaching hours. For example, during election duties, classes remain hampered for weeks, directly affecting student learning.
India’s education system is still theory-based. We focus on memorization rather than application. For example, a student may score 95% in physics but may fail to apply Newton’s laws in real-life situations. In contrast, countries like Finland, Singapore, or Japan adopt practical and application-based learning, where students learn by experiments, projects, and teamwork.
On this Teachers’ Day, my humble request to the Prime Minister of India and the Chief Minister of Tripura is this, Treat teachers as VIPs, like in countries such as South Korea or Finland, where teachers enjoy the same respect and facilities as doctors and engineers.Increase teacher salaries in Tripura to attract the best minds into the profession.Free teachers from excessive non-teaching duties, so they can give 100% attention to their students.
(Tripurainfo)
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