A Study of Mental Health and Job Satisfaction of Teachers Working In Special Schools

Abstract

Dr. Radhakrishnan, our former president and the chairman of the University Education Commission (1949) rightly observed "The teacher's place in the society is of vital importance. He act as the pivot for the transmission of intellectual traditions and technical skills from generation to generation and helps to keep the lamp of civilization burning." Teachers are therefore regarded as the custodians of the present as well as future. They prepare the citizens to shape the destiny of the country. They are actually the backbone of educational system. NCTE (1998) has said "Education is a process of human enlightenment and empowerment for the achievement of better and higher quality of life." Sound and effective system of education results in the unfoldment of leamer's potentialities, enlargement of their competencies and transformation of their interest, attitudes and values. According to Pestalozzi "Education is natural, harmonious. and progressive development of man's innate power. Education is a tri polar process involving the interaction of educator and that of the child in social settings. Society develops a framework of curriculum which serve as a .Iaid down track for the runway of education, Teacher as a professional worker virtually goes through this runway to stamp the 1 RIE Library Bhopal ultimate outcome of this network of interaction i.e, education. For all practical purpose, quality of education is primarily reflected in the quality of teachers. They are the soul of the school. Quality of teachers mould and shape the quality of education. In this -context we are strikingly reminded of often quoted remarks of education commission (1966, Pg.46) "Of all the factors which influence the quality of education in and its contribution to national development, the quality , competence and character of teachers are undoubtedly the most significant. Nothing is more important than securing a sufficient supply of high quality recruits to the teaching profession, providing them with the best possible professional preparation and creating satisfactory conditions of work in which they can be fully effective." Providing access to education is a duty that Indian states have taken upon themselves. The government has taken various measures to provide education to all categories of students. Thus differently able children are provided special education along with inclusive education through special educators in India so that they can also live a normal life. With the advancement of technology, special education in India is fast improving. ReI Act (1992) came into affect from July 1993 whose major aim is accreditation of various categories of professionals in the field of special education in India. Government policies are tailored to enhance education of children with special needs but very few of these policies focus special educators or teachers working in special schools who take 'care 'of children with special needs. They are' largely dubbed 2 RIE Library Bhopal with teachers of regular schools. Therefore the issues of such teachers have always been a neglected field in India. According to census of India 2001 of 21 million disable population of the country, 12 million are children, ):'0 meet educational requirements ofth~se .~hildren.country has about 3200 registered special schools. Various NGOs and private organisation have also come up in the field of special education.