This year, the Teachers’ Day Celebration at Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth (CVV) was organised by the School of Ethics, Governance, Culture and Social Systems (EGCS), which offers two integrated BEd programmes: BA BEd English and BSc BEd Mathematics. As a part of the celebration, two events were conducted by the students under the guidance of faculty.
GURUDAKSHINA
A Competition for Aspiring Teachers
‘Gurudakshina’ was a competition for school students in two age groups – 7 to 13 years old and 14 to 18 years old. The purpose of the competition was to give the students a chance to pay a tribute (gurudakshina) to their favourite teacher who inspires them to teach. The participants were asked to send in a short video of 5 to 10 minutes of them teaching any subject, by 2nd September 2021. They also had to mention the name of their favourite teacher. We received 186 entries from different parts of the country. The videos were judged by a panel of two faculty members and a student-teacher: Dr. Saurabh Singanapalli and Dr. Vishaka Venkat (Assistant Professors, School of Linguistics and Literary Studies) and Mr. Jayasankar O. K. (second-year BA BEd English).
The Present and Future of Teaching: Expectations from a School Teacher
A Conversation with two National Award-Winning Teachers
This was a conversation with two national award-winning teachers: Ms. Maya Mohan, the Director of Tattwa Centre of Learning, and Ms. Leela K. M., the Principal of Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Kannur, on 04 September 2021. The two acclaimed teachers discussed the present and the future of teaching, focusing on expectations from a school teacher of today. They were interviewed by Dr. Ajaykumar K. (Assistant Professor, School of EGCS). The event was hosted by Ms. Vaishnavi Anand, a student of BA BEd English.
The webinar began with a prayer by Ms. Ashwathi Asha (Second-year, BSc BEd Mathematics). Dr. Radha Mohan (Professor, School of EGCS) welcomed everyone and set the stage for the discussion.
The questions posed to the experienced teachers were:
- What is expected of a school teacher of this time and age?
- What can and should a teacher do?
- What does the future look like for a school teacher?
- How do we mould the young minds that come to us trustingly for their beautiful futures?
Their responses addressed a range of topics including the use of technology in teaching, the role of education in social development, the significance of empathy, the importance of passion and affinity towards the profession, and ensuring inclusiveness in classrooms.
After the insightful discussion, the audience was given an opportunity to ask their questions. Some of the questions that were taken up were:
- How do teachers deal with the physical challenges of the profession?
- How can a teacher deal with the limitations posed by the undue interference of parents?
- Who exactly is a teacher?
- What is friendly teaching and how can it be achieved?
After the interactive Q&A session, Prof. Gauri Mahulikar (Dean of Faculty, CVV) announced the winners of the ‘Gurudakshina’ competition and their nominated teachers.
The winner from the category ‘7 to 13 years’ was Nanda Lakshmi K. P. from Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Payannur, Kerala, who was inspired by Ms. Rajula V. R., her Malayalam teacher. The winner from category ‘14 to 18 years’ was Minoshka Valora Fernandes from St. Mary of the Angels Convent High School, Chinchinim, Goa and it was her English teacher, Ms. Ashtrid Pires e Costa, who inspires her. The photographs of the winners as well as a short clip from their video entries were presented to the audience. The Dean spoke a few words felicitating the two students and the teachers who had made such an impact on them. It was also announced that the nominated teachers of the winners would be sent a token of love from CVV on behalf of their students, as Gurudakashina.
One of the winners, Minoshka Valora Fernandes also spoke a few words about her motivation to enter the competition.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms. Meenakshy K P (Second-year BA BEd English) followed by a prayer by Ms. Ashwathi Asha.
Faculty Coordinator: Ms. Neethu S Kumar (Assistant Professor, School of Linguistics and Literary Studies)
Student Coordinator: Ms. Meenakshy K. P.
Report by: Ms. Meenakshy K. P.
