What is the Basic Need for Teacher Evaluation?

Teachers are the soul of a school system. The quality of educational services depends ultimately on die quality of the people who provide them. Teachers comprise a major force in the school system. The quality of teachers has direct bearing oil the quality of education imparted in our schools.

Teacher evaluation is high on education agenda and is of considerable concern to knowledge. Public interest in education all- around us is strong and definitely legitimate which has to be satisfied under all circumstances.

Teacher evaluation has the purpose of letting interested groups know how well, and in what ways, teachers contribute to their students and to society. Most of the teachers remain quite tense and apprehensive when it conies to their evaluation. Today a teacher can turn evaluation process to his advantage with regard to evaluation and accountability. A teacher must realize that evaluation process offers opportunities for

(i) Improvement of teaching performance,

(ii) Identification of in service training needs,

(iii) Promotion of improved communications,

As compared to others the evaluation of teachers is of greater significance. Its main reason is that the clients with which teacher’s deal are young. Society entrusts them to a teachers’ care. Monitoring the activities of teachers becomes essential if we want to protect our young ones. Evaluation can bring about renewal of motivation, more effective classroom teaching, improved relationships with pupils and colleagues, more sharing of ideas and problems, and a general improvement in the atmosphere of a school. A teacher can feel that he has a contribution to make towards the policy-making of the school.

Evaluation can decrease a teacher’s sense of powerlessness and can increase his sense of efficacy. The major benefits which result from teacher evaluation are given below:

(1) For a competent and good teacher:

(i) To enhance jobs satisfaction

(ii) To enhance motivation

(iii) To share ideas and expertise

(iv) To support new initiatives and staff development

(v) To raise or restore self-esteem

(2) For teachers in difficulty:

(i) To offer support

(ii) To offer counselling

(iii) To help improve performance

(3) For the school

(i) To help pupils through supporting their teachers

(ii) To build a whole school approach

(iii) To indentify in service and staff develop ment needs and plan programmes

(4) For teacher training institution

(i) To develop a sound ‘knowledge base’ for evolution support.

(ii) To develop hospitality.