Conversation with Gunjan Khatkar conducted by Harit Khattar, a class 11 student of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh, and Emerging Leader with NoticeBard.

Please give me a brief introduction of yourself.

I’m an engineer who is delivering their learned ideas to young minds and simultaneously learning from them.

What is your educational background, job history and work experience?

Master’s in Technology and working in operations for 7+ years.

Why did you pursue this career?

The operations tend to maintain the bridge between the learners and educators and hence there happens to be no loophole that gives the satisfaction of doing something exciting.

What do you find most frustrating about teaching?

Nothing, as teaching itself involves learning and evolving. But yes if an educator is not open to new ideas then it may cause certain frustration to cope with new ideas, theories, and techniques.

How do you manage your classroom?

By maintaining a balance between being strict and friendly.

How do you stay motivated at work?

The thought of delivering something useful and being a small part of the community who is contributing towards tomorrow’s leaders.

After COVID-19, mobile usage is very high in the younger generation, and they are starting to live in the virtual world. Please give some tips to reduce their screen time.

There needs to be a certain time and place at home where the whole family is sitting with each other without technology. This will give the students a stress-free environment and will help build bonds stronger.

We observed a lot of incidents happening due to stress and depression in young children. What would you suggest to control & monitor this issue?

Because of technology involvement, youngsters are in their hypothetical world. They need to break the barrier and sit and talk about their thoughts. The distance from technology is itself the cure.

What do you like/dislike about the online education system?

Like includes the ease of delivering education to students without the barriers of distance and time and the dislike is the absence of a bond that the educator shares with learners. The bond with which we can not only impart knowledge but also help young minds cope with their issues.

What is the role of teachers in student’s as well as the country’s growth?

A teacher is the overall solution to students’ issues. The person who can address their curious minds with ease as they not only deliver the books but also cater for their issues which helps them to become what they want to. The teacher is their motivator and critic.

What are the drawbacks of the current education system in India? Do you have any suggestions to resolve these issues?

The drawback that attracts my attention is the weak relativity of theory and practicals. We have a lot many subjects in theory but lack their practical connectivity with the world. The students are busy in making practical files, and homework notes, but merely learning theory doesn’t help them in exams. Hence, they run for grades by cramming which in the long term serves none.

Image taken from here.