To this day, Monday mornings have a hold on me. It’s been 12 years since I sat in a mathematics class, and it occurred to my teacher that I was always late and unbothered, because I didn’t like the subject, or the person who taught it for that matter.

I might have been the only one who openly expressed a dislike for the subject and its ‘master’; however, mathematics is generally detested by many.

Some loathed the subject but suffered in silence and ‘forced’ relationships with math teachers. Others eventually gave in and freely explained their ‘fate’ with math to teachers who, as it turned out, understood their frustration and helped them accordingly.

Not all succeeded, but I must admit that those who turned to teachers for help performed better than the rest of us who kept our distance and didn’t want anything to do with a math board or teacher.

Significant lessons can be drawn from such examples; a student can only be helped if he or she learns to ‘use’ the teachers.  That is what they are there for, to guide students towards academic excellence.

Student-teacher interactions might not seem significant to some students as many are driven by peer pressure or the effects of adolescence, however, this is essential for one’s academic success.

Brazilian educator, Paulo Freire, time and again explained the significance of dialogue and an engaged approach to learning, with teachers and students speaking the same academic language, as that is how learners will be able to reap big from their education.

Research has shown that the way students relate with their teachers influences their academic performance, as well as social development. Teachers are parents and therefore can do what a parent would do to help the child succeed in life. I have seen and heard of students opening up to their teachers about financial constraints being a hindrance to their education, and with the teacher’s own earnings, some have helped such students.

As we look forward to a knowledge based-economy by 2020 through a vibrant education system and a well-empowered society, it’s important that we go back to the basics and encourage this connection and boost quality human resource development.

The writer is a PhD student at Beijing Normal University   pontiankbr@outlook.com