Are certain individuals born to be teachers and can only those be truly competent? Or can people without such aspirations develop to become ‘great teachers’? Are there certain conditions, the presence of which foster such development?
Learning Curve - Issue XXVI - The Teacher

The teacher is central to the teaching - learning process, whatever a school’s policies, whether private or public, whatever board it has chosen to adopt. The teacher is an essential component of the success of the process. This being the case it is essential to consider what ‘creates’ a good, effective teacher and what sustains her and , through her, the framework of the school. This Issue is aimed at not only teachers and teacher-educators, but also policy makers and observers, in short, anyone with an interest in education. The focus articles deal with the policy and practice of teacher development and suggests alternatives while two more examine gender sensitisation and pre-service teacher preparation discussing in considerable detail the curriculum and its realities. This is followed by articles from practitioners across the field, from both private and public institutions. Teachers have recounted their experiences on the ground. There are critiques of the present system holding up practices against the light of theory, while some teachers have described their positive encounters, testifying to the dedication of colleagues working with enthusiasm and vigour in remote areas, without the help of sophisticated teaching aids.
In this issue
Teacher Education and Management: Policy, Practice and Alternatives
Teachers working together – WORKS!
The Teacher and the Government
Pre-service teacher preparation - curriculum, practice and reality
Inertia in Teacher Education and the Need for Judicial Intervention
The elephant in the room that we refuse to acknowledge
Acharya to a Service Provider: Travelling without Reaching
Man of responsibilities: story of a passionate head teacher
Teacher Learning Centre: An Effective Space for Teacher Development
The Role and Challenges of School Teachers in Contemporary India
Empowering Teachers through Development
Case study of in-service Teacher Professional Development - An occasion or a progression
Action Research and Reflective Practice
Book Review: The Reflective Teacher - Case Studies of Action Research by Neeraja Raghavan