Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy urged people to respect teachers and ensure that they are paid well.
Speaking at the Infosys Prize ceremony, hosted by the Infosys Science Foundation, Murthy said teachers are role models for youngsters. "We must show much respect and pay better salaries to our teachers and researchers. We must also provide better facilities to our researchers. We must honour them. They are role models for our youngsters. That is why we instituted the Infosys Prize in 2009. It is our small contribution to further the cause of research in India," he said.
He called for spending $1 billion a year to train school teachers by 10,000 retired highly accomplished teachers from the developed world and from India in STEM areas (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). He proposed setting up of 2,500 'Train the Teacher' colleges across the country where teachers are trained year-around.
"Experts tell me that each set of four trainers can train 100 primary school teachers and 100 secondary school teachers a year. We will be able to train 2,50,000 primary school teachers and 2,50,000 secondary school teachers every year by this method," he said.
"We should pay about $1,00,000 a year for each of these retired teachers. This twenty-year programme will cost us $1 billion a year and $20 billion for twenty years. Our nation, targeting a GDP of $5 trillion soon, will not find it a big financial burden."
Murthy said he has made the suggestion with the spirit of the betterment of the country, and that there are experts who will evaluate it and decide. "In an environment like India's there are always suggestions by various people, and I am sure we have a set of experts who will evaluate those suggestions. And if it is found to be worthwhile, they may take it forward. Otherwise, it won't, that is natural. And therefore, I think all these suggestions should be welcomed, as long as it is given with the spirit of betterment of the country," he said.