RRT@52 -'The Teacher is the Torch, Not the Torch Bearer'

The teacher is the torch that dispels darkness and enlightens students rather than a torch bearer, according to KrishnaMani, renowned trainer and mentor. Despite all the technological changes unleashed by the internet, mobile apps, artificial intelligence and machine learning, the teacher still plays a pivotal role in society ensuring the holistic development of the child, she added. 
She was addressing the 52nd Rajagiri Round Table organised by Rajagiri Media Trust at St Joseph College of Teacher Education for Women here. Sister Alice Joseph, Principal of St. Joseph College said that amidst declining moral values in society, value education is being imparted to teachers so that it can be transmitted to students. Dr PR Poduval, former Director of School of Management Studies, CUSAT underscored the importance of inculcating problem-solving skills, communication skills, task competence skills in children apart from proficiency in subjects taught. 
Suma Paul, CBSE Award Winning teacher of Rajagiri Public School and Jayan Malil, former IT@School co-ordinator underscored the need for including technology training for teachers as it can make learning for children more interesting and lively.  Nelson Diaz, certified trainer, spoke of the need to develop critical thinking skills in students. 
Dr Varghese Panthalookaran, Director of Rajagiri Media Trust which publishes Pallikkutam magazine and portal Pallikkutam.com, said that the objective of Rajagiri Round Table (RRT) held every second Wednesday of a month is to foster a healthy debate on various issues related to educational sector covering such areas as policy making, parenting, teaching, technology, research, learning and behavioral issues. "We have the Doha Model and the UN Model of debates but our idea is to evolve a unique discussion and debate culture where in different views, ideas and thoughts are synergised to become policy recommendations," he added. Sreekumar Raghavan, Editor of Pallikkutam.com, was the moderator of the session.  
(Detailed report with photographs will be published in October 2019 issue of Pallikkutam Magazine)