This Guru Purnima, NT BUZZ spoke to educators to understand how the teacher-student relationship has changed over time
RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT BUZZ
I’ve been in the teaching profession for the past 25 years. Students today are not as innocent as they were a decade or two ago. They are smarter and have better communication skills. They’re also no longer afraid of teachers. They won’t hesitate to say if they feel a teacher is wrong or if a class is boring. Many teachers feel that the respect they once received has declined. I believe respect needs to be instilled by parents, but at the same time, teachers must also earn it. A teacher who is knowledgeable, confident, compassionate, and genuinely caring will still command respect. Earlier, teachers were seen as sources of knowledge. Today, we need to be compassionate guides who focus more on students’ emotional development than just academics. What students need is someone who listens and inspires.”
– Urvee Phaldesai, Headmistress, Shri Nirakar Vidyalaya, Mashem, Canacona
I have been teaching for 19 years, and I do notice a change in the way some students interact with their teachers. Nearly two decades ago, students would often meet teachers outside the classroom to discuss both academic and non-academic matters. These days, that interaction has reduced, most likely due to the influence of technology.”
– Kevin D’Souza, Assistant Professor,
Goa University
I have taught for 12 years at the high school level and 6 at the college level. Respect is now earned more through mutual understanding and approachability rather than authority alone. With easy access to vast online resources, the information gap between students and teachers has narrowed. While this can promote collaboration, it can also lead to students questioning or even undermining teachers, particularly when they perceive teaching methods or content as outdated.”
– Maya Kamat, Teacher,
The Progress High School, Panaji
Despite changing student-teacher dynamics, I’ve consistently experienced respect throughout my graduate-level teaching career of over 30 years. As the age gap between lecturers and students narrows, relationships have become more friendly and approachable. The traditional “guru” figure has evolved into a mentor and guide. This shift doesn’t lessen the teacher’s role, it redefines it. Nowadays, a teacher not only imparts knowledge but also mentors, facilitates discussions, and connects with students on a more relatable level.”
– Bhushan Bhave, Professor and Principal, Vidya Prabodhini College of Commerce, Education, Computer and Management, Porvorim
I’ve been in the teaching field since 2018, and in my experience, the respect teachers receive from students today is the same as before or sometimes less. Respect now largely depends on the comfort level students feel. If you’re friendly and approachable, you’re more likely to earn it. But if you’re strict, students may dislike you and even avoid taking your paper unless there’s no other option. I’ve had both good and bad experiences. Many students have shown me respect and affection, but some don’t stay in touch or update me on their progress. In some cases, former students have even spoken negatively after moving on to other colleges. Students should understand that teachers play an important role in their success. Without respect for one’s teachers, a student’s future can be affected.”
– Aditya Sinai Bhangui,
Assistant Professor, Goa University
I have been teaching for 12 years now. Today, students respect teachers who understand them, support them, and speak to them with kindness. When we connect with them genuinely and with care, they respond with real respect and trust. The bond between teacher and student remains the same; it has simply evolved into a new way of learning and growing together.”
-Lalan Palyekar Haldankar, Teacher, GVM’s Higher Secondary School, Ponda
With 20 years of experience, I’ve seen how students’ views of teachers have changed, especially between city and village areas. Earlier, teachers were seen as strict authority figures and respected automatically. Currently, students expect teachers to be friendly, fair, and well-informed. In cities, they compare teachers with online educators and show respect only when it is earned. In villages, students still follow traditional values and look up to teachers, though this is changing as technology spreads. Now, teachers must connect with students and prove their value to earn respect.”
– Sagar Krishna Parwar, Teacher, VVPS V R Gauns Memorial Higher Secondary School, Navelim, Sanquelim
I’ve been a higher secondary teacher for 21 years and have seen how technology has changed our role. Students may not show the same respect as before, but teachers can earn it by building good relationships, staying updated, and helping students grow.”
– Rolita Judy Pires, Teacher, Rosary Higher Secondary School, Navelim
In the last seven years, I’ve seen that respect depends on what you can offer. With access to social media and other platforms, students already know a lot. They respect you if you teach them something new. Since the pandemic, their expectations have grown. Students now expect more from educators. But respect should be mutual, there’s always something to learn from students too. One area where students need guidance is corporate behaviour. Many use the same informal tone with industry professionals. They need to understand the importance of professional communication, and that’s where we need to step in.
– Akhilesh Bhisso, Guest lecturer, Goa College of Architecture, Altinho
With over a decade of teaching across schools, institutes, homes, and orphanages, I’ve engaged with students from varied age groups and backgrounds. I now focus on mentoring primary school children. I’ve seen a clear change in how students view and show respect to teachers. I believe a child’s upbringing and home environment influence their behaviour, values, and how they engage with learning and authority.
-Vaishnavi Shankhwalker,
Art teacher, The Gera School, Old Goa
