Teaching is an exciting profession that helps in the training of each individual. However, in recent years, many teachers have found themselves struggling with a multitude of challenges related to student behavior. A reality where too often the temptation to let things take hold in order to avoid any conflict, whether with students, their parents or the school administration.
“I'm afraid to go to work. » This is the cry from the heart of a teacher of around forty years who works in a college located in the North of the country. He was beaten up last month by the father of a Grade 9 student. It was the student's bad behavior that prompted the teacher to report him to the school management.
Marika prefers, for her part, to let the students do their thing. “Unfortunately, we are faced with students who ignore the college’s regulations. As we do not have specific conditions for acting in cases of indiscipline and as many teachers are victims of acts of violence, I prefer to let it happen. This is not a responsible way to act. The authorities should have put strict conditions for students’ bad behavior…”
The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed an additional challenge on teachers: adapting their practice to online teaching. A transition that does not go without difficulties, while many students seem reluctant to connect to virtual classes. Some justify their absence by arguing that the lessons will be reviewed during face-to-face classes anyway. “The students do what they want today. Many are absent from online classes. When we talk to parents about it, they say they are helpless since they are at work when classes are in session.
online… We have no choice but to return to classes once classes resume,” says Marika.
For Yugeshwur Kisto, president of the Government Secondary School Teachers Union, the advent of online classes has undoubtedly reshaped the dynamics of teaching and learning.
According to him, students' attitudes towards these teaching methods vary depending on various factors, including the accessibility of technological resources, the quality of teacher-student interaction and the nature of the content offered. “While some appreciate the flexibility and autonomy offered by online courses, others may face challenges related to social isolation and difficulty concentrating”
Making an observation on student participation, he emphasizes that a more or less substantial number of them connect and actively participate in these new forms of learning. “This development highlights the growing importance of the integration of digital technologies in the educational field, thus highlighting the pressing need for educators to acquire teaching skills adapted to this new and constantly changing environment. »
MIE educational training
Since April 2017, the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE), has been committed, thanks to its new degree-awarding status, to providing quality education to teachers by investing in their continuing professional development. The parapublic establishment, which falls under the aegis of the Ministry of Education, is responsible for teacher training, curriculum development and educational research.
Hemant Bissoondyal, Director of MIE, says that MIE optimally develops the content of its training programs and updates teaching strategies as well as teaching approaches across the education sector. To do this, the institute places increasing importance on research and the integration of information and communication technologies in all educational disciplines.
In addition, it emphasizes concrete projects aimed at the development of inclusive education. Through the ongoing professional development of its academic and non-academic staff, the institution maintains a high standard of excellence in teaching and learning. The manager adds that the diverse range of continuing and initial education programs offered by the MIE are designed for a diverse audience, encompassing teachers and trainees from preschool to tertiary, primary and secondary levels. This also includes Special Education Needs. Whether delivered face-to-face or online, the programs offered by the MIE are validated by the Higher Education Commission, thus guaranteeing the educational quality of the modules.
More than 3,600 learners are registered in the courses offered by the institution. “The active pedagogy of the MIE opens the doors to commitment and motivation,” underlines the director. He affirms that students will have the opportunity to experience varied and relevant learning, in accordance with the requirements of Mauritian society, while promoting group work and the collaborative approach.
“Not only will students acquire new knowledge in their respective disciplinary fields, but they will also benefit from adapted and personalized training in teaching approach, which will enrich their teaching practice,” he adds. The director thus underlines the crucial importance of the educational training provided by the MIE for those aspiring to take up the teaching profession.
Encouraging young people to embrace the profession
“To encourage young people to enter the teaching profession, innovative strategies and attractive incentives are needed. » This is the observation of Yugeshwur Kisto. He says early awareness programs, highlighting the social importance and positive impact of education, should be considered.
The president of the Government Secondary School Teachers Union adds that measures to improve working conditions and provide opportunities for continuing professional development can help attract and retain qualified talent in the field of education. It is imperative, according to him, to put in place more effective support mechanisms for teachers and to offer candidates a more complete experience as well as better preparation for the realities of the profession. “Better working conditions and better pay would make the position of educator much
more attractive. In addition, measures to guarantee job security and protect the rights of teachers can help improve their job satisfaction and promote their long-term commitment to the profession,” he believes.
The role of Support Teachers
In primary schools, there are certain measures that have been taken to help schoolchildren. For the first time, a new grade of educators was introduced. These are Support Teachers. They have been trained to provide support to the class teacher to help children with learning difficulties. The latter has a maximum of eight schoolchildren in his care. Currently, Support Teachers have a Teachers Certificate qualification. However, some of them wish to train to reach the Diploma level. This progression would allow them to have other advantages.
