Career in Teaching

Good teachers can bring out the best in every student. They are the ones who make a difference in the lives of their students. 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.

In a teaching profession different areas of specializations, skills and type of training are required for different levels. The various levels 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.

Qualifications 

From primary school all the way up to college there is no limit to the various subjects and fields that a teacher can specialize in.  The minimum qualification required is as follows.

Nursery schools: Nursery Teachers Training

Middle schools: Teachers Training Certificate (TTC) or its equivalent

High Schools: Graduate degree, Bachelor of Education (B.Ed)

Colleges/Universities: Post Graduate degree, preferably with Doctoral Degree. Also have to qualify the National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by University Grants commission (UGC).  

Special schools: Diploma in special Education.

Skills

To be successful in this profession one requires dedication, perseverance and patience. Knowledge of the subject one is teaching, rich experience in co-curricular; keenness to take on responsibility; tact; patience and the ability to get along with all kinds of people are essential.

Teachers have to identify themselves with the students. They should see things from the students' perspective. They should have the ability to communicate well, to create a liking in young minds even in the case of most boring subjects. A teacher must always remember that apart from teaching, it is he/she who shapes a child's character. A teacher has to be a friend, philosopher and guide to his wards. 

Career Options

Teaching is a satisfying and worthwhile career, with a well-defined career path. As a teacher's job is to prepare students to take their place in the future workforce, the changes in the economy are making teaching a challenging and interesting job. Teachers need to keep abreast of new developments associated with the emerging economy.

Teachers find placements in Play schools, Nursery schools, Primary/elementary schools, Secondary schools, Colleges, Universities, Educational research institutes, Special schools. Besides school and college teaching, they may even start their own institutes/tutorials or write course books.

Nursery and primary school teachers have a huge responsibility in the sense that, it is what children learn and experience during their early years that shape their views and affect success or failures later in their lives. Thus teachers play a vital role in the social and intellectual development of children. While kindergarten teachers deal with children of 3 to 5 years, primary school teachers deal with those of 6 to 12 years. The secondary school teachers instruct students from 8th to 12th standard. Usually they deal with one particular subject in which they specialize.

In universities or colleges there are lecturers and professors who specialize in a particular field. They give lectures, guidance and help the students in their academic and research work. Those who have organizing ability have a further scope to become a principal, vice-chancellor in the management level.

A challenging area in the field of teaching is that of dealing with children having physical and mental handicap and learning disabilities. The work is emotionally and physically demanding which needs a lot of patience. It is different from the normal teaching norms as each child needs special care depending on his/her disability.

Remuneration

Lectures draw a salary of Rs. 6,500 to Rs 10,500 at the entry level. The salary at Senior level is around Rs 8000 to Rs 13,500. The pay scale of professors ranges from Rs 12,400 to Rs 22,400