Teacher’s Day: A Time to Honour and Rethink the Role of Educators

 Teacher’s Day: A Time to Honour and Rethink the Role of Educators

Every year on September 5, India celebrates Teacher’s Day in honour of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a teacher, philosopher, and former President of India. The day is meant to pay tribute to educators who shape the future of our society. Yet, while speeches and floral tributes abound, the real plight of teachers remains largely ignored.

Recently, the Supreme Court of India delivered several verdicts spotlighting this imbalance. In August 2025, the Court forcefully rebuked the Gujarat government for paying contractual assistant professors a paltry ₹30,000 per month—while their ad-hoc and regular peers earned as much as ₹1.2–1.4 lakh for the same duties. The bench declared that symbolic reverence—chanting “guru brahma, guru vishnu…”—meant little if teachers are not compensated fairly. In another ruling, it invoked the principle of “equal pay for equal work,” directing that contractual assistant professors in Gujarat must receive at least the minimum pay scale of regular assistant professors.

Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has been active in matters concerning teachers, particularly emphasizing the need for qualifications such as the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) to ensure quality in the profession. While this mandate underlines accountability and competence, the Court has remained silent on another pressing issue—teacher salaries. Across the country, private schools pay as little as rupees six thousand a month to teachers, while simultaneously charging exorbitant fees from parents. Managements often resort to arbitrary “hire and fire” policies, eroding the dignity of educators. In contrast, government school-teachers are better protected, yet they often work in dismal conditions where infrastructure is in shambles, safe drinking water is scarce, and functional toilets are absent.

The erosion of teachers’ self-esteem is not merely a professional concern; it is a social one. Doctors in India are safeguarded by specific laws to protect their safety and dignity. Teachers, who also deal with the public daily and shape young minds, deserve similar legal safeguards. Last year witnessed several shocking incidents where teachers and principals were physically attacked, even stabbed, by their own students. Indiscipline in schools is on the rise, yet there exists no structured mechanism to address this menace.

To restore balance, the government and education boards should introduce a “Charter of Good Conduct” for students. Just as academic performance is rewarded, good behaviour should earn credits, reflected in mark sheets. Such recognition would instill discipline and respect for teachers, creating a healthier environment for learning.

The low salaries and lack of motivation among teachers deter bright minds from entering the profession. For many, teaching is no longer a calling but a last resort. If India aspires to be a knowledge-driven nation, this must change. Teachers should be offered fair salaries, secure work environments, and opportunities for professional growth. Only then will the teaching profession regain its lost prestige.

For teachers themselves, survival in the profession will increasingly depend on adaptability and resilience. They must continuously upgrade their skills—whether in digital pedagogy, classroom management, or subject expertise—so that they remain relevant in a rapidly changing educational landscape. Building strong networks with peers, engaging in professional development, and asserting their rights through collective forums will be crucial. At the same time, teachers will need to maintain emotional balance and cultivate patience, empathy, and creativity, for these qualities will remain their greatest strength in dealing with the pressures of modern classrooms.

On this Teacher’s Day, beyond ceremonial celebrations, we must reflect on how our society treats its educators. If the foundation of education is weak, the structure of our future will be fragile. Safeguarding teachers’ dignity, livelihood, and safety is not just an act of gratitude; it is a national necessity.

- Jagdeep S. More, Educationist