Position of Teaching Profession in Society

Though the teaching is very noble profession. It is usually referred to the profession of prophets. Economic growth of the country is dependent on quality of teachers directly. However, keeping in view the current practices, this profession is neither adequately paid not very respected.

The teachers in society are considered as people, who were unable to get any reasonable job, and ended up in teaching profession. Additionally many students in higher education, use teaching (in shadow education institutes) as source of income. Still the respect is missing element as part of teaching profession.

To explore root causes of this taboo, it is necessary to identify that either teaching is a profession or not. Teaching is considered as most ancient profession existed to current date in addition to medicine and judiciary. It has systematic and growing body of knowledge, it has strict rules and regulations for entry and promotion, and it has system of values and norms (code of ethics). These all features make it fall in category of profession technically. Second set of features for a profession is that it must involve some knowledge and skills, it must be paid and the people working in the field must be trusted as experts.

Now the element of trust is the essential component that make a profession respected and accepted in the society. The society trust a profession based on expertise of people working in the field, rules and regulations set by officials, salaries and economic perks attached, career growth and most importantly experience of people with the people working in the field. As in the case of Pakistan, the teaching is not considered as very good profession ( except for the females, where they are “allowed” as teachers, that it would not disturb their responsibilities at home. Additionally teachers are not respected by authorities, thus making them low paid and always questioned workers ( for example unplanned tests, corporal rules, derogatory remarks). These all had played a very important role in lowering the status of teaching profession in the society.

There is need to work in multiple dimensions to improve the position of teaching profession in society. For example; the change in policies about entry process, tests on attitude and aptitude, licensing and salaries. This will in turn bring change in opinion of teaching as profession in the society, thus brining positive image of the teachers.