Teach for India is looking for applications. They want people to contribute and commit to socially equipping India's illiterate population. Sounds impressive...So i merrily plod along and visit their website to see if I could contribute weekends. I check out the application form and guess what - there are pages (multiple of em) asking for your school and college CGPA. Now i've never been a scorer in school n college but i'm thinking to myself - I've just been made to realize that without good scores I cannot contribute (its a story we're all too familiar with - and with 3 Idiots on the screens - you've definitely been touched by it)
Though the venture is spectacular - they fail at exactly the same place where many examiners have failed - testing the caliber and exploiting it. CGPA is soooooo wrong a way of measuring potential.
Sure India is a big country and selection by elimination comes naturally - but even so, there is no excuse for building a social impact without all spokes of the wheel. You could end up with 30 teachers who are all high scorers in school but none of them can teach children the devastating effects of alcohol abuse. Part me thinks Teach for India wants academic geeks cause they don't want to 'risk' it. Betting on an academician is safer than betting on a non-academician. You should read the way people are discussing it on Facebook - its like they're all preparing for a job interview ! I mean we've missed the social aspect of completely or what !
Teach for India - if you are reading this - there's a reason you're missing out on the AWESOME applications. Good teachers are high on experience (life or otherwise) not high on academic scores. Start looking at the most unusual places - you'll find a wealth of willing minds who would like to contribute to this social cause. (Unless of course you're planning to start a school - just a regular school ! :) )
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