Higher Education and Role of Teacher

KIU-Knowledge and Research-4
Higher Education and Role of Teacher
By Prof.Dr.Attaullah Shah Vice Chancellor KIU

This is an undeniable fact that the role of teacher is critical to the success of the education and particularly higher education. A renowned teacher and philosopher Mr. Abul Kalam said: “Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, caliber, and future of an individual. If the people remember me a good teacher, that will be the biggest honor for me”. The role of teacher in making or breaking an academic institution can never be ignored.
Islam has given high prestige and honor to the teacher. The holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH him was the legendary teacher and he was proud over it. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said,
“O Allaah! Do not let me reach a time during which scholars are not followed, and honorable people are not respected” (Ahmed).
Hazrat Ali (R.A.) said: “One who taught me a single word, made me his slave.”
However, to enjoy this distinction of being a true teacher would require numerous sacrifices and commitments from teachers as well.
In the recent focus on research by HEC and inducting PhD graduates directly as professor has affected the quality of teaching in many ways. The PhD faculty and Tenured Track Faculty has been focusing relatively more on publication of the research and research project due to the inherent needs of their job description. This has certainly improved the impact journal publication of the faculty of Pakistan as one of the best in BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries, but the quality of teaching in Universities has deteriorated over the years. At the other hand the contemporary teacher training and education programs in Pakistan has not been able to develop the knowledge, skills and attitude of the teachers to tackle the challenges of 21st century teaching. In this context, the former Vice Chancellor Allama Iqbal Open University and imminent educationist has recently expressed his fear in Urdu article. English translation of an extract of the article is reproduced here:
“ The currently offered teacher training programs in Pakistan are mainly failed in producing the requisite skills and capacities in teacher. The role of teacher is pivotal in the learning and education system, but it is always affected by internal and external factors. A reliable teacher education program must change the teachers at three levels i.e. Knowledge, Teaching method and attitude. The present education and learning system in Pakistan has created teacher as Knowledge Consumers rather than Knowledge Producers…………..”
The role of teacher can be assessed in four ways; i. As Role Model ii. Spiritual father iii. Source of inspiration and personal development. As role model, teacher is always followed as an ideal by his/her students. They not only discuss the habits and approaches of the best teachers but also discuss then when they sit together. A teacher who is punctual and committed is not only respected by the class but at the same time, students follow his/her good habits as an ideal. The attributes of the teacher’s personality have far reaching impact on the personality of the students. It has been common observation that the students either replicate the gestures and habits of their parents or teacher. Hence the major challenge for all the teachers is to be a true role model. If we look back at our student life, the teacher with high level of ethical standards, commitment and dedication had very deep impressions on our personality. I believe that even today, the teacher has same level of respect, provided that a teacher is committed and loyal to his holistic profession. As a teacher, it is imperative for us to prepare our teaching, learning and assessment plan for semester with due care and well defined outcomes. It must be remembered that we teach to develop our students and their attributes for becoming a successful human being and effective organ for the society. The teaching, learning and assessment must be aimed at achieving these outcomes. These outcomes are reflected in the graduates in the form of their knowledge ( Cognitive domain), Skills (Psychmotor) and Attitude ( Affective). This is also called Outcome Based Education and Assessment (OBE/OBA), where the attributes and outcomes of the students are closely linked with the demands and expectations of market and employers.
Teacher has to be above abroad morally and ethically. There is no margin of mistake with teachers in this context as the holistic profession of teaching has no more for financial, moral and ethical corruption in any manifestation. His personality will be more like a magnet to attract students. It is imperative for all people working inside the University and educational institutes, to exhibit high level of ethical and moral standards. I always advise my personal staff to treat people with honor and dignity. We must treat our students like our children and this relation must be warmly reciprocated from students as well. Societies having highest level of regards for teachers are also developed economically. I would recall the story narrated by Late Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad, then when he was given a challan for violation of traffic rules in a European country and was directed to appear before the court. Next morning, when he reached the court and the judge came to know that he was a professor, he raised in honor and advised the court to raise in honor of the professor. He not only acquitted him but also left him to his car. This shows, how high esteem is attributed to the Professors and educationist in developed societies. When the writer was writing, this article, a very tragic news about the killing of an English Professor at the Bahawalpur college by his student was narrated. It is really a question mark for us also, as to why this scared relationship of teacher and student has been maligned to the extent that it sans respect on either side.

The second important role of teacher is spiritual and ethical grooming of the students. Today education has been mainly focused over transmission and dissemination of knowledge with very little or no focus on the wholesome development of the students. We need to build creativity, analytical and critical thinking in our students by involving them in such kinds of activities. Our education system must also create a balance between high quality of education and high level of moral and ethical characters. This will require the teachers to emphasize over character buildings. The education system in Pakistan has failed to develop the wholesome personality of the students, who can dynamically respond to the markets. The personality of the student or graduate is assessed from the perspective of knowledge, skills and attributes. The Employer’s Perception Survey conducted by Grant Thornton for Higher Education Commission of Pakistan in 2016 about the attributes of the Pakistani graduates across various disciplines, revealed some interesting facts, some of which are reproduced as follows:
i. Pakistani Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) need to improve their assessment methods, to more practical and hands on assessment, which can actually test the competence and capacity of the student, in addition to theoretical knowledge.
ii. This approach will also inculcate the habit of research and inquisitiveness in students, who would focus more on the next phase, which is the application of knowledge.
iii. This will also address the issue raised by a majority of employers regarding their lack of satisfaction in some graduate skills that are important for them such as critical thinking, analytical approach, self-initiative and effective interpersonal communication.
iv. While engineering, and information and communication technology are the second and third top most demanded faculties by our employers, there is very little development in our universities that cater to the dynamically evolving technological needs of our country, and as a result employers are resorted to look abroad for their technology needs, as well as for people who have the requisite knowledge and training on latest technologies.
v. HEIs in Pakistan should take heed of the fact that a majority of employers, including government and private employers, have foreign qualified people in their work force. The reason attributed to this is the lack of availability of quality resources in Pakistan, who have practical knowledge and experience in the subject of their specialization, and also lack overall quality. These are areas that local HEIs need to focus more for being able to adequately meet, local demand of employers.
vi. In terms of expectations and satisfaction of employers from graduate skills and competences, HEIs should focus on the aspects that are most important, but have a low satisfaction with employers, such as critical and analytical thinking, motivation and initiative, effective writing skills and quality consciousness.
vii. Employers have strongly endorsed the use of various means to enhance engagement with HEIs, including; cooperation on curriculum design and study programs, collaboration on research and innovation, recruitment of graduates, work placement opportunities for students, participation in debates/seminars organized by HEIs, structured discussions with course directors or senior management, and cooperation with career services/centers. A proactive and collaborative effort will be required by employers, HEIs and HEC to make progress on these fronts.
The top few skilled required by the majority of employers in Pakistan include sector specific skills, analytical, creative and problems solving skills, interpersonal and team working skills, basic skills and capacity of flexible and adaptable skills. To this end problem based learning (PBL), Case study based learning and sharing actual social problems with students. Unfortunately, the teaching in Pakistan has been static and based on verbose knowledge, which failed to develop creativity and analytical thinking in students.
Allama Muhammad Iqbal a great philosopher, thinker and poet of Pakistan, declared teacher as a spiritual role model for students. According to Iqbal, the modern education has failed to produce highly quality teacher and student. Teacher as a role model, will build high vision & passion, spirit of love and altruism, warmth of love for others and self-respect. Education must develop students into universal human beings, imbued with the spirit of justice, merit, global brotherhood and high humanitarian values.
Iqbal in his famous poem, Talu-e-Islam (Rise of Islam) Stanza 3, says:

You are the ever‐powerful hand and the tongue of the eternal God;
Give birth to certainty, of negligent one, for your are laid low by doubt.

he goal of the Muslim lies beyond the blue sky;
You are the caravan, which the stars follow as dust on the road.

The blood of your heart is the henna which decorates the tulip‐bride.
You belong to Abraham; you are the builder of the world.

The One who left this world of water and clay for eternal life—
The one whom the prophet hood took with it—you are that gift.

This principle rises from the story of the Radiant Community—
You are the guardian of the nations of the land of Asia.

Read again the lesson of truth, of justice and valour!
You will be asked to do the work of taking on responsibility for the world.
Dr. ChubaOkadigbo former Nigerian Head of Senate said “If you are emotionally attached to your tribe, religion or political leaning to the point that truth and justice become secondary considerations, your education and exposure is useless. If you cannot reason beyond petty sentiments, you are a liability”

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