SUNDAY POST FEB 1-7
HIMANSHU GURU
Orissa is brimming with talents that are looking for new ways to explore the world. Today we need educationists armed with insights and imbued in reformist zeal who would help students discover their hidden potential and inspire them to fight for the development and dignity of all men.
For the countless people of the country who are fighting the scourge of illiteracy and lack of educational facilities, especially at the primary level, ignorance is surely not bliss. It reflects poorly on the credentials of a nation like India that close to 70 years after independence it is still struggling hard to lift millions out of the dark abyss of ignorance and superstition. The world’s largest democracy has still to prove to the world that the poor and the needy can avail of basic facilities like education and healthcare – essential parameters of social development.
Today we live in a society where the youth aspire to a better life and dream big. It is not possible to help them achieve their dreams and fulfill their passions without creating solid educational infrastructure. Orissa is brimming with talents that are looking for new ways to explore the world. Today we need educationists armed with insights and imbued in reformist zeal who would help students discover their hidden potential and inspire them to fight for the development and dignity of all men. Sunday POST speaks to a dedicated educationist from Paralakhemundi about the current state of teaching-learning in Orissa.
Born June 6, 1969 to Sarojini and late Raghunath Panda at Khanja Street of Paralakhemundi in Gajapati district, Dillip Kumar Panda has always been a brilliant student. He is married to Manjula Padhi and the couple is blessed with son Sreyash and daughter Aadweeka. Panda did exceedingly well in graduation and post-graduation. After completing his Masters in Zoology in 1991, Panda did his MPhil in 1992. He earned the Bachelor in Education Degree in 1994. Besides, he is also a research scholar in ethno-veterinary. Panda writes school textbooks and is actively engaged in preparing research articles. He is a thoroughbred academic in the traditional sense.
When asked what inspires him to write Panda said, “My father was also a writer. He has a series of works to his credit. Besides, my elder sister Sushila Panda is also a writer. I started writing as a child in school. My teachers noticed my skill and encouraged me, and after that there was no looking back.”
The 45-year-old teacher has eight years of experience as a lecturer in zoology in Gunupur College. He is the writer of the science book followed in Standard VI in the state. He is also the writer of the Class X diary and Pisiculture book. Panda has written the teacher training module of Samarthya I, II and III for Classes IX and X. He is a syllabus committee member of the Board of Secondary Education (BSE).
Panda has also written a handbook on skill development (for adolescent education). He is a state-level resource person in life science for the BSE curriculum. Besides, the talented educationist is a regular talker at All India Radio, Jeypore. He lives in Aurobindo Nagar, Parabeda, Jeypore in Koraput district.
Asked what were the loopholes in the education system in Orissa he said, “We teachers are trained in modern and developed education programmes. But they are not implemented properly. I should say the advanced educational models are not reaching the grassroots. Follow up, too, is not proper.”
“The traditional system has several shortcomings. It is nobody’s fault but over time we should adopt new techniques to teach students. We should not dump the syllabus on them. Rather they should be taught in a manner that they find interesting and easy,” Panda said when asked whether the prevalent teaching-learning system in the state needs an overhaul.
Panda has so far participated in a series of events and seminars in and outside the state. He has participated in CCRT at Tura in Meghalaya as well as in the national science exhibition twice in Delhi and Solan. He participates in the National Science Congress and several state-level exhibitions, seminars and training programmes every year. Presently, he is serving as a science teacher in Government High School, Jeypore. He is the headmaster in-charge of the school. The 104-year-old institution has about 1,400 students and is considered the biggest school of undivided Koraput district.
During the course of discussion with Sunday POST, Panda also promoted activity-oriented education. He said, “The traditional classroom system of education is good but the chalk-and-talk process has its inevitable limits. I feel students can learn better in an open field. I mean, through activity-oriented education they will learn things easily and that will not be tough for them either. Presently, many educationalists are promoting the smart class system. When asked whether he thinks it to be a successful tool in pedagogy Panda assented. He said, “Smart class education is a perfect tool for achieving better and improved learning outcomes. There are gaps in implementation. We have adopted the present system from Maharashtra but it should be slightly altered to suit the local environment. Though we have been asked to teach in a smart class, we have not been properly equipped. I mean there is scarcity of related CDs and other equipment. Orissa Knowledge Corporation has taken the charge of implementing the programme.”
“I love music and watching talk shows in TV. I love to watch Discovery Channel,” said Panda when asked what he loves doing apart from writing and teaching. He knows Oriya, Telugu, Hindi and English.