Agents of enlightenment

Teachers have managed to keep pace with the dramatically evolving education sector by transitioning from their traditional roles to becoming facilitators, mentors, and counsellors in the digital age

- SANDIP BANERJEE

There is a very famous Bob Dylan song, "The Times They Are A-Changin'. Almost all corners of psychosocial perspectives have undergone transformations, and human beings are experiencing variegated situations hitherto unknown. The vertical of education is no exception to these changes. As one of the most vital components of social life, education concerns all sections of society by developing human resources. The process of education is incomplete without the art of teaching. In our traditional outlook, a teacher is not just supposed to impart lessons; a teacher should foster the holistic development of students. While celebrating Teacher's Day, we need to understand the changing roles of the teaching community in light of the consequential changes taking place in our lives. A single date as Teacher's Day does not evaluate the contribution that the teaching community has been rendering for ages; it is still in constant progress. A teacher's role has shifted from a preacher to a manager of students' social and emotional behaviour. Teachers are mentors for the learning of students, motivators for slow learners, and facilitators of the entire process of education. This facilitating role has emerged with newer significance. While playing the role of a facilitator, a teacher is also connected beyond the cordon of classroom teaching. Modern education is not just confined to the completion of the curriculum; it is also concerned with taking care of the components essential for a student to enjoy the benefits of education. Several programs launched by the government, both at the central and state levels, address the needs of students without which the purpose of education would be impeded. In the context of the varying roles of teachers, they play a decisive role in making these programs achieve the purpose for which they are framed.