Teaching right

SEKKAPPAN V. AL.

INDIA, with its famed Gurukula system and renowned ancient centres of learning such as Nalanda University, has a proud educational tradition. The teacher has always been a revered figure in Indian society. Still, the teaching profession has been plagued by stereotypes: that it is a career mainly suited for women; that the pay is not lucrative; that there are little prospects for growth. Some of these biases are no doubt founded on facts, but these long held attitudes are changing rapidly. The education sector in India is poised for great change in the next decade, a move accelerated by the onslaught of information technology. The teacher will continue to be the backbone of such a system; and the demand for innovative and committed teachers is expected to rise dramatically.

Nature of work

Teachers work at various levels. These include,

* Pre primary/ Nursery

* Primary

* Secondary and senior secondary

* College and universities

Pre-primary and nursery

Pre-primary or nursery teachers handle pre schoolers and kindergarten students. This area of work is extremely challenging. Teachers working with young children play a crucial role in the child's development. The mushrooming of play schools in India offers good job opportunities for those interested in working in this sector.

Most polytechnics and vocational training centres conduct training for pre-school teachers after standard XII. Formal qualifications are not always mandatory to enter teaching at this level. It is possible to join as a trainee and gain on the job experience. It is also possible for teachers from other related fields, such as psychology and counselling, to work in nursery schools.

Primary

Primary school teachers handle classes 1 to 5. They choose an area of specialisation. However, at this level, teachers are often involved in educational administration and also in extra curricular activities.

Secondary and senior secondary

At these levels, the teacher spends most of the time on focused teaching and evaluation activities. The emphasis is primarily on imparting specialised knowledge of the subject. Preparation of students for the Std. X and XII Board examinations is an important part of the high school teacher's job profile.

To teach in primary, senior and senior secondary levels, a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree is essential. Teachers having B.Ed. degree after graduation are called Trained Graduate Teachers. This training is imparted in teacher's training colleges to graduates. It is best to complete B.Ed. in regular colleges approved by the government. Correspondence courses are usually offered only to in-service teachers.

Colleges and universities

Colleges and universities employ lecturers, professors and readers. At the university level generally an M.Phil. in the subject of specialisation is required before a lecturer is appointed and promotion depends on further qualifications.

Eligibility tests for lecturers are conducted by the UGC. After eight years of service, lecturers are considered for senior scale. Readers must possess a good academic record with a doctoral degree or equivalent published work. Selection of professors is made from among eminent scholars with published work of high quality actively engaged in research with 10 years of experience in post graduate teaching and/ or research at the University/ National level institutions, including experience of guiding research at doctoral level or from among outstanding scholars with established reputation who have made significant contribution to knowledge.

Employment avenues

Schools (private and government), colleges and universities continue to be the largest employers of teachers

in India. However, these are by no means the only organisation that require teachers. Teachers are also employed in,

* Special schools, catering to mentally challenged students

* Language schools, where the focus is exclusively on Indian/foreign languages

* Tuition centres

* Coaching centres, catering to aspirants for professional courses

* Dot com companies specialising in education (such as those offering online courses)

* Private computer training institutes

Diversification

The following options are open to teachers interested in alternative careers in education:

* Giving tuition on a full-time or part-time basis

* Educational research

* Teacher training

* Developing educational material (textbooks, guides, educational aids)

* Educational journalism.

The author can be reached at careercell@reynolds-india.com

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