Conversation with Mrs. Asmita Shripad Talwelkar 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 am Asmita Shripad Talwelkar. I have 38 years of teaching experience. I love my profession of being a teacher. I am a teacher first, then the Principal or Campus Coordinator.

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

I have an MA in English and History, and a B.Ed. MS in Educational Systems of Management, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the field of Education. I have a total of 32 years of experience in teaching and 6 years of experience as the Principal. Total experience of 38 years.

Why did you pursue this career?

I pursued this career since I love teaching. I am very much passionate about my students.

What is the minimum qualification required to be an educator and what are the career opportunities in the teaching profession?

Degree and related professional training. There are several opportunities in this career. You can be a teacher at the school level, or college level. Your grade will be different as per your qualifications and eligibility. You can become a Principal after attaining the required experience.

What do you find most frustrating about teaching?

Nothing.

How do you stay motivated at work?

I am a self-motivated and self-disciplined person. Being with students makes me very joyous and enthusiastic.

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.

Parents spending quality time with their kids, involve their kids in some outdoor activities, knowing the interests and likes of their kids and accordingly preparing a timetable for them of various activities. More and more interactions with children and their active participation.

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

Finding out the root cause of stress and then dealing with it. Active participation of students in sports and leisure activities which will relax them.

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

Online education system is a way to reach out to every student. Students from any corner of the world can participate and learn. It is a boon to all.

Nowadays reading and writing skills are disappearing from a student’s profile. How can you educate and encourage them, as it is helpful to improve concentration and sharp memory?

Teachers at school and parents at home can motivate students to participate actively in reading and writing by evolving some activities and engaging them.

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

Teachers can do a lot. They have the miraculous power to develop students under them as good human beings. Students with knowledge and skill enhancement can contribute a lot to the nation’s growth.

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

We need to work on training and continuous professional development of teachers to bring the required changes to the system.

Image taken from here.