Teachers should act as motivator: Social Scientist Hussaini

Hyderabad: In a world where accessibility to knowledge has been taken over by Internet, the teacher should change his role to a dream-maker and motivator for students to achieve greater goals, said eminent social scientist Sadatullah Hussaini who is also the Director for Study and Research, a New Delhi-based NGO, on Tuesday.

Delivering the Teachers’ Day lecture at Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hussaini said that the days of a teacher being the knowledge giver were over. “The knowledge is available on various digital platforms. An enterprising student could find required information on his own. Therefore, a teacher has to go beyond his traditional role and become a person who prepares a student to dream big and set greater objectives in life…He has also got to be a motivator, a person who inspires children to put the world on the path that leads to ending exploitation and equitable distribution of wealth.”

The Education and Training Department at MANUU organized the lecture to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the first Vice President of Independent India. Since the birthday of the late leader coincided with a holiday, the Teachers’ Day was observed a day later.

Dr Mohammad Aslam Parvaiz, Vice Chancellor of MANUU, who presided over the function, lamented the degradation in values in the society and asked the teachers to build the character of students beneficial to the nation and world at large. The chaotic conditions in the world demand that people returned to the values contained in religious scriptures, he said.

Dr Shakeel Ahmed, Registrar, MANUU, said that the contribution of parents and teachers in one’s life was immeasurable. “A teacher should impart knowledge in a manner that touches the hearts of students” he said.

Hussaini said that pursuit of carriers with focus on gathering material benefits has led to decline in concepts of love and concern for the disadvantaged sections of the society. “A teacher should be like a gardener who should focus on the potential growth of ‘the seed’ rather than ‘manufacturing’ of degree holders,” he averred.

Prof. Fatima Begum, Dean School of Education, described Radhakrishnan as a great philosopher and scholar who ‘worked as a live bridge’ between the East and West.
Prof. Siddiqui Mohammed Mahmood, Head, Department of Education and Training, conducted the meeting. Dr. Athar Hussian, Asst. Professor proposed the vote of thanks.