Sunday, November 9, 2008

Four out of five school teachers in state are women - 1

Teaching, for the Goan, may not be a “masculine” vocation. Or so it appears, as 80.92% of teachers in the state from the primary to the higher secondary level are women.

This, according to a national survey of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), is the second highest percentage in the country after Chandigarh’s 84.98%. In the rest of India it ranges between 52% and 72%.

It’s not just that, but according to the latest census of government employees, almost a third of the female workforce in Goa are teachers. Of the total number of 9,281 women government employees, 2,468 are employed in schools.

Teaching in the state, says psychologist Nandita D’Souza, is still in the process of being accepted as a profession by men. “Men and women are equally capable of being good teachers. The qualities required are patience, the ability to be good learners throughout their careers, be humorous and have respect for another being.”

However, she said that teaching is a profession that requires a caring nature and just as in similar professions, counselling and healthcare for instance, one sees more women taking to teaching.

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