By: CHHANDITA BASU
The study investigates the impact of neoliberal policies on education, focusing on the commodification of teaching. It examines how teachers’ roles are defined by an accountability framework, with their performance measured against fixed standards. This often results in a rigid control over children’s learning outcomes. The research aims to explore diverse views from primary and pre-primary teachers in Kolkata’s private schools regarding their job satisfaction, work environment, and daily routines. Interviews with thirty-two teachers from six schools reveal the challenges they face, particularly the undervaluation of their profession, inadequate pay, and high pressure to meet unrealistic expectations. Pre-primary teachers experience these issues more acutely, leading to significant job dissatisfaction and career changes.
