Do we really respect our teachers?

Education is the building block for every nation and this is a lesson learned by all since the very first day of academic life. Our teachers work hard and try to make this proverb effective in real life as well. As after parents the teachers are the first educators, it is only in their hands to teach social values.

But, if we consider the present scenario, can we claim that the teachers are respected today by their students? What do we reward our teachers with, respect o a slap? All these questions today are waiting for an answer as they not only criticize the existing social trends but also tend to focus on the bad aspects of modernity.

If we consider the past few decades, it's quite obvious that education was a daydream. Struggling with inadequate resources and fewer facilities such as not enough student capacity in schools and other educational institutes, people still would work hard to be educated.

They could walk for miles to reach school. The students thought their teachers to be their Fairy Godmothers as they were the only ones that could give them the wing to fly in the arena of success. Teachers were rewarded with the highest level of respect and this respect always resided in the hearts of these aspiring youths who looked up to their teachers for guidance, shelter, and appreciation.

Today, while scrolling down my Facebook newsfeed, a news portal caught my eye which was not only terrible but a slap in the face of humanity. The headline said, "An SSC candidate slaps his teacher." As soon as I laid my eyes on these words, my dignity forced me to stop from scrolling down and I immediately wanted to know the account of the story.

The news reported by Jago news 24 Bd reported that a student had slapped his exam invigilator as he had not allowed him to cheat and share answers with his friends during the examination. The student who is accused of this crime is Shamimur Hasan Shagor and he is a student of BP Govt High School Panchagarh.

 The news further noted that Chemistry exam was scheduled on that day at the Panchagarh Government Girls High School. In room number 203, Shagor was copying the answers for the multiple choice question section. Thus, senior teacher Hakikul forbids him to do so and changes his seat.

As Shagor maybe was maybe unable to answer all the questions properly, he decides to wait outside, and as Hakikul came out after handing over the exam scripts, he attacked the teacher and ran away immediately.

This incident is not a small issue for me. I can never even image to slap my own teacher. But should only the boy be blamed for this mishap? Almost every year the question papers are leaked. Even though there are thousands of candidates who have managed to achieve CGPA 5.00, but they are not able to pass the admission tests, but why?

Even today, certificates are given more preference than skills. Skills or qualities are merely tested when it comes to evaluating the position of a graduate. Thus, these youths choose to cheat and achieve a piece of paper that certifies them as high school graduates.

In the era of Digitalization, a student slaps a teacher and the crowd is a mere audience to this whole drama. Is this what we were educated for? The teacher was a just and ethical one who just wanted the examination to be fair. Is this how the youths of this millennium reward honesty?

 Even though the government has decided to take strict action against this student, do you think it will be enough to suffice his crime? Will we ever stop slapping humanity?

Ashley is a student of English, Notre Dame University, Bangladesh, writes for The Asian Age


-----------------Ashley Shoptorshi Samaddar