indian council of medical research - Pondicherry University DSpace ...

school butldlng should be better There were some (39.4%) who thought that the
envtronmental hyg~ene should be improved. Some women (23.7%) expressed a new
that teachers were not to be blamed entlrely and that there were far too many students
for them to handle. The teachers felt that the parents should also show some interest in
thetr children's progress. The teachers were unhappy that the parents wanted the
school to do everything for the children includtng motivating them to go to school.
The followtng are some of the statements made In this regard -
1. "We go to school because it builds our character and we become good" (A 13
year old boy In a group discussion)
2. "They go to school so that they can get a job. They also get some vocational
training in school" (A 30 year old woman tn group discussion) Many expressed a
s~mtlar vtew
3. "What job will they get? We are coolies. They will also become coolies. It is
enough if they can read and learn a few words, put their sign and read a letter"
!A 36 year old womarl In an tn-depth ~nterview)
4. " The other day when I went to the school I found that two teaches were
sltt~ng and gosstplng. Where they teach? They just come, gossip and go
away. But if the students don't answer they punish them" (A 36 year old man ~n
a group dlscuss~on)
5. "Private schools are better. Government schools are hopeless" (A 30 year old
man In a group discuss~on)
6 "Teachers alone can't be blamed. Children also are difficult to control. There
are so many students. In the assembly the headmaster cannot see the last row
of students at all. How can they condition' so many of them?" (A 30 year old
Woman ln an in-depth Interview) ' The word cond~tton whtch has been adopted in
Tam11 refers to dlsc~pline
7. "The parents don't bother at all. They should also check whether the child is
doing homework properly or not ( A prtmary school leacher In a group
d~scusston)