In Uttar Pradesh, test of students will decide fate of teachers

Teachers ask how scores of a single test written by students can be used to evaluate them, say it amounts to harassment

The Moradabad division in Uttar Pradesh has ordered a special test for government school students, based on which their teachers will be rated. The results of the test ordered by Divisional Commissioner Anjaneya Kumar Singh will categorise teachers, not students, as Green (good), Yellow (bad) and Red (very bad). Over five lakh students took the test. The move has invited criticism from teachers who asked how scores of a single test written by students can be used to evaluate them.

“I believe every student is good. But shaping them is up to the teachers. So the aim of this test is to identify the potential of teachers. The overall result of the school will reflect on teachers,” said Mr. Singh while talking to The Hindu.

The administration had prepared 15 sets of question papers for each class across the division, which comprises five districts, namely Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, Bijnor and Amroha. The observers in the exams were zonal officers from the district administration who kept a close watch on students writing the test.

According to data provided by the administration, 77.91% of students appeared in the test that took place in 5,794 government primary schools on Thursday. A total of 25,130 teachers work in the schools.

Those teachers who are rated ‘bad’ and ‘very bad’ will be given three months’ time to improve and a retest of the students will follow.

“After three months if there is no improvement among children, we will report the teachers to the government and recommend action,” the Commissioner said, adding that the test and categorisation of teachers is only aimed at “encouraging them to improve”.

Though the administration maintains that the test is not “against the teachers”, the initiative is being criticised by the teachers who feel that “they are being put under too much pressure”.