CAREERS IN TEACHING

INTRODUCTION

Teaching is the stimulation, guidance, direction, facilitation and encouragement for learning. It is an art and a teacher is an artist. Teachers are always a boon to society. Through their intelligence, patience and wisdom, they attempt to not only hone the learner’s intellect and aptitude but also, create a well-rounded personality. Teaching has an influence in developing ones mind and character and also gives the satisfaction of having sparked the light of knowledge and dispelled the clouds of ignorance.

The teaching refers to a specific cluster of activities which includes such acts as explaining, demonstrating, questioning and motivating. A teacher’s responsibility towards a child is probably more than that of the parents. Good teachers can bring out the best in every student. They are the ones who make a difference in the lives of their students.

NATURE OF WORK

The process of teaching was carried out by early human beings and even by animals to teach their young ones for successful adjustment in the environment. The process has undergone several changes from informal to formal.

Areas of specialization include teaching at nursery schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities, institutes, special schools etc. Each level calls for a different expertise. If you love to be with children, teaching at schools would be a good option, but if you want to be with young adults, it is better to look at the college or university level.

Nursery/Primary Schools Teachers: Teachers play a vital role in the social and intellectual development of children. They introduce children to numbers, language, science, social studies as well social interactions. Here games, music, artwork, computers and other tools are used to teach basic skills.

Secondary Schools Teachers: The secondary school teachers instruct students from 8th to 12th standard. Usually they deal with one particular subject in which they specialize.

Colleges/Universities Teachers: They give lectures, guidance and help the students in their academic and research work.

Special schools Teachers: They deal with children having physical and mental handicap and learning disabilities. The work is emotionally and physically demanding which needs a lot of patience. They have to work in close association with parents and medical professionals like speech therapist, physiotherapist etc.

Teacher Educators: As a teacher educator you can work as Asst. Professor, Associate Professor, and as professor in DIET, SCERT, NCERT and other colleges affiliated to Universities.

Distance Teacher : Now a days there are many open schools and universities, you can choose to work with any of them.

Teachers have wide and varied responsibilities including:

·         Teaching students of different ages and abilities

·         Preparing lessons and teaching materials

·         Marking and assessing work

·         Organizing displays in the classroom

·         Liaising with non-teaching staff such as teacher aides and therapists

·         Discussing student progress with parents and guardians

·         Working with colleagues and in professional teams

·         Organizing excursions, school performances and sporting events

·         Supervising extra curricula activities

·         Attending meetings and professional development activities.

CONDITION OF WORK

Positives/Negatives

+ives:

•         Teaching offers an individual the opportunity to exchange ideas and knowledge Teaching is an enjoyable experience especially if the classroom is a bubbly lot with proactive students and learners. There are less chances of getting bored in the profession.

•         Teaching is considered a very respected profession in all countries. The time schedules are convenient for an individual.

•         Constant learning and growing

•         You get plenty of leave and time off, though some professors work on holidays too

•         Academic freedom to pursue your ideas of research and teaching

-ives:

•         Teaching is considered a low paying job when compared with other corporate jobs.

•         Pay packages of teachers are very low in a few schools and colleges and very high in several others. As a result, the standard of education gets badly affected.

•         Syllabus rather than subject of interest in India binds teachers. As a result, the practical methodologies of teaching difficult subjects such as Maths are ignored. When these subjects are taught theoretically, the students may not grasp the subject very easily.

JOB HAZARDS

There are not many job hazards in this profession, however sometimes chalk dust can cause allergy and throat infection. If the class strength in more one needs to talk louder which could lead to vein related diseases.

HOUR OF WORK

Work timings are comfortable and a teacher usually takes classes between 8 AM and 3 PM. For colleges, the lecturers can choose their class timings, which again ends maximum by 4 to 5 PM in popular universities.

EARNINGS

For instance, a teacher in central school teaching primary classes gets a starting pay package of Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25,000 On the other hand, private schools usually offer a higher package of Rs. 15,000+ depending on the class, education, and experience of the teacher

For teaching in colleges, you will earn about 40,000 and above depending on your education and experience. However, the selection method for a lecturer or professor position is stringent and you may need to clear several entrance exams

Teachers of Scientific Organizations like IISC, IISS&T are given extra allowances.

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

I.          Teachers for conventional disciplines at pre-primary, primary/elementary and secondary level education

1.      Nursery teachers is 12^th + NTT

2.      Primary teacher

(a)    12^th + 2 yr. BTC

(b)   Graduation +2yr.BTC

(c)    Graduation + B.Ed

3.      Trained graduate teachers

Graduation (50%) + B.Ed. Or

Dual Degree 04 years B.El.Ed/BA B.Ed/B.Sc. B.Ed

4.      Post Graduate Teachers – Post graduate + B.Ed

5.      Music Teacher (TGT) – BA Music

6.      Art Teacher (TGT) – BA Painting

II.       Higher Education Level             

Assistant Professor

a)      Universities and affiliated Colleges is PG (55%) + NET /SLET

b)      Technical Universities and Engineering IITS/NITS/IISCT/IIS - PG in relevant Subject and GATE score

c)      AIIMS, AFMC & Other Med. Colleges - PG (65%) + Med. Council of  India Exam.

Associate Professor -  08 years Experience as Assistant Professor + Publications

Professor                  - 05 Years Experience as Associate Professor      

III.    Other than these there are institutions like

d)     Physical Education Colleges (Sports)

e)      Nursing colleges

f)       Institutions of Designing

g)      Institutions of Management.

h)      Library Science

IV.    Armed Forces                 

Education Havaldar - B.A/B.Sc + B.Ed Or MA/MSC

Religious Teacher - BA/BSC in any subject + LkaLd`r esa e/;ek + fgUnh esa Hkw'k.k OR BA/MA - LkaLd`r  with HINDI in B.A.

Lecturers        - PG + B.Ed

Sr. Lecturers  - PG + NET  Ph.D. Desirable           

V.       Special Teacher               

School Education - TGT GRAD+ B.Ed (SP.ED)/PGPD

Higher education - PG + M.ED (SP.ED) / PGPD, Clearance of Test conducted by RCT

VI.    Teacher Educator

PG +M.Ed./M.Phil/Ph.D.+03 years experience desirable

VII. Distance Teacher       

School Education                    PG +PGDDE/MA (DE)

Higher Education                    PG + PGDDE/MA (DE)/ M.Phil (DE)/ Ph.D. (DE)

AGE LIMIT

·         School Level: 18 - 40 (NTT / PRT / TGT / PGT)

·         College Level: 21- 35/No Age Limit (Assistant Professor)

FUNDING/SCHOLARSHIP

Usually, you may not be required to take a loan for studying B.Ed. However, there are education loans of up to Rs. 7.5 lacs per year from banks such as State Bank of India.

MODE OF ENTRY

School Education:       Written Test + Interview

Higher Education        NET + Merit from HS to PG

Assistant Professor     GATE + Merit from Graduation + PG

                                          MCI Test + Merit from Graduation + PG

                                          Ph.D. Desirable

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED

·         Patience,

·         Confidence

·         Enthusiasm

·         Organizing capacity

·         Enjoying a challenge

·         Coping well with change

·         Being a good time manager

·         Friendly and helpful nature

·         Deep passion for the subject

·         Passion for exchanging ideas

·         Orientation to life long learning

·         Having a good sense of humour

·         Being good at explaining things

·         Freedom from prejudices and bias

·         Keeping your cool under pressure

·         Love for and an understanding of children

·         Good Communication and Interpersonal Skills

·         Able to encourage in students the ability to analyze and think.

·         Ability to work in a team as well as using your own initiative

·         Being a people person and enjoy working with a wide range of people

·         To create a liking in young minds even in the case of most boring subjects.

ADVANCEMENT/PROMOTIONS

·         School Teacher through Departmental Examination can become a Principal/BDO/DEO

·         Assistant Professor → Selection Grade → Associate Professor → Professor → Head of Department

·         Joint Director

·         Director

TYPICAL PLACE FOR EMPLOYMENT / SELF EMPLOYMENT

List of Some Schools and Colleges Hiring Academicians in India

•         Central Schools, also known as Kendriya Vidyalaya with CBSE syllabus

•         State Government/Municipality Schools

•         Public and Private schools in your area under various state boards such as ICSE / C.B.S.E

•         Universities approved by UGC (University Grants Commission)

•         Technical Universities approved by AICTE (All India Council of Technical Education)

·         Outsourcing of Knowledge through NET online teaching

·         Coaching Institutes

·         Home tuitions

·         Write book

·         Development audio –visual material

SOME INSTITUTES

Some of the B.Ed colleges in India include

·         JSS Institute of Education, Bangalore,

·         College of Teacher Education, Agartala;

·         Indira Gandhi B.Ed College, Karnataka;

·         A.G. Teachers College, Ahmedabad;

·         National Council of Teacher Education, New Delhi.

Besides, there are universities such as IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University) which have a standard curriculum.

SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION:-

•         http://www.icbse.com/careers/careers-in-teaching

•         http://www.jagranjosh.com/careers/teaching-1284024404-1

•         http://education.qld.gov.au/hr/recruitment/teaching/qualities-good-teacher.html

•         http://www.hindustantimes.com/hteducation/greatcareers/guiding-light/article1-1123220.aspx

•         http://www.employmentnews.gov.in/career_details-career-in-teaching-233.asp