Career In Teaching - Jobs, Salary and Future Prospects

A teacher is a person whose occupation is to teach or instruct students on a subject, they have specialized knowledge in. A college or university teacher who ranks above an associate professor is designated as a Professor. The name changes, but the job role remains the same - educating the world for a better tomorrow.

Career as a Teacher

Teaching is one of the most noble professions in the world. Right from nursery to college and universities, the job name of teachers changes from PGT level, and TGT level, to lecturers and professors but their core job role remains the same, which is to teach and educate the world for a better tomorrow. Are you planning to make a career in teaching? This article will help you understand the job, roles, salary, and scope.

A teacher exercises their intelligence, patience, and wisdom to not only hone the learner’s intellect and aptitude but also to develop and create a wholesome personality. Teaching has an influence on developing one's mind and character and also gives the satisfaction of having sparked the light of knowledge and dispelled the clouds of ignorance.

The main reason for choosing this career should ideally be due to interest in the subject, secure professional career, and regular annual vacations. It can also be a second career for those who have retired from professional services.

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The Job of a Teacher

As this field is so vast having areas of specialization, different skills and types of training are required for different levels. 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. Good teachers can bring out the best in every student. They are the ones who make a difference in the lives of their students. Rousing students from their apathy and watching their curiosity grow is one of the biggest rewards of teaching.

Primary School Teachers

Teachers specializing in 'early school education' (three to five years) work in nursery and infant schools. Those opting for the later years work in primary and middle schools. Most primary school teachers instruct one class of children in several subjects and are helped by an assistant teacher.

• Teaching every subject in the curriculum
• Helping children to develop their use of language and numbers and explore mathematical ideas
• Introducing them to science and technology, history and geography, and creative performing arts
• Some special subjects like music, art, reading, science, arithmetic, or physical education are taught to many classes by the same teacher.
• Teachers plan lessons, prepare tests, and grade papers, prepare report cards, meet with parents, attend faculty meetings and conferences, and supervise extracurricular activities.

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Secondary School Teacher

Teachers at the secondary level specialize in one or two subjects but commonly teach them to all age groups and abilities. The tasks:

• Imparting subject knowledge
• Monitoring attitudes and personality development of the students
• Organize and supervise all co-curricular activities
• Prepare test papers
• Meet parents, attend conferences and faculty meetings
• Suggest curriculum changes

Lecturers/College Professors

• Researching and preparing for lectures and practicals
• Lecturing to assist students in interpreting, analyzing, and developing original thought
• Conducting seminars or tutorials for small groups of students
• Setting and marking assignments and exams
• Evaluating research, and monitoring work projects and placements.
• Publishing research work
• Administrative responsibilities - student admissions, curriculum development, departmental committees, external examinership

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Personality Traits

• Patience
• Confidence
• Liking for and an understanding of children
• Organizing capacity
• Friendly and helpful nature
• Good ability to communicate well
• Should be able to create a liking in subjects in young
• Deep passion for the subject one handles
• Encourage students
• Ability to analyze and think.
• The teacher has to be a friend, philosopher, and guide to the ward.

Salary of a Teacher

• Lectures draw a salary of Rs.6, 500 to Rs.10, 500 at the entry level.
• The salary at the senior level is around Rs.8000 to Rs.13, 500.
• The pay scale of professors ranges from Rs.12, 400 to Rs.22, 400.
• In Delhi University and other State Universities the pay scale for College Professors is at the same level as in the Civil Services.

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Job Prospects

Candidates who become Teachers could work in the following institutes.

• Playschools
• Nursery schools
• Primary/elementary schools
• Secondary schools
• Colleges
• Universities
• Educational research institutes
• Special schools
• Self-employment by starting institutes/tutorials

Nursery / Primary Schools:

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. 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. While kindergarten teachers deal with children of 3 to 5 years, primary school teachers deal with those of 6 to 12 years.

Secondary Schools:

The secondary school teachers instruct students from 8th to 12th standard. Usually, they deal with one particular subject in which they are special. A good base in the subject is a must.

Colleges/Universities:

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

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Special schools:

A challenging area in the field of teaching is that of dealing with children having physical and mental handicaps 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 therapists, physiotherapists, etc. It is different from the normal teaching norms, as each child needs special care depending on his/her disability.
Study Route

Pre-primary

Most polytechnics and vocational training centers conduct training for pre-school teachers. The preferred eligibility is Class XII with 50% aggregate. Personal attributes are, however, more important. There are Montessori teacher training schools, which are privately owned in some large cities.

Primary teacher training

Teachers with diplomas in education / Bachelors in education teach the primary classes. Graduates of Home Science also serve as primary teachers.

Secondary and senior secondary teachers

Teachers having B Ed Degrees after graduation are called Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs), after post-graduation, they are called postgraduate trained teachers (PGTs). This training is imparted in teacher training colleges.

Some universities offer these courses through correspondence for in-service teachers to get trained. There are contact programs for giving practical orientation.

In 1996, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) regulated the training of teachers. Correspondence/distance education courses are meant for teachers who are currently working.

Lecturers

College lecturers require a good academic record with at least 55% or an equivalent grade at the master's degree level in the relevant subject from an Indian University or a foreign University. The eligibility test for lecturers, the National Eligibility Test (NET), is conducted by UGC, CSIR, or similar tests accredited by the UGC. The State level test SLET is for appointments within the state. The promotion is based on performance, duration of service, and research publications.

Leading academics go on to complete Ph.D. theses. A doctorate (Ph.D.) is fast becoming a must-have for teaching postgraduate classes in leading universities.

After Class X/XII (any subject)
Nursery teachers Training of 1-2 years at Polytechnics/ Vocational Training Institutes.
After Class XII (any subject)
Early childhood education/preschool education courses are offered by several universities.
After Graduation (any school subject), Bachelor in Education (B Ed) for TGT Grade Jobs
After Post-graduation (any school subject), B Ed for PGT grade jobs.
After post-graduation / M.Phil take the NET/ SLET Exam for College Teaching.
Teachers may opt for writing textbooks/ conducting online / distance education classes.
Places to Study
B.Ed. / M.Ed. courses are offered by the following universities to graduates and postgraduates in any subject

• Nagaland University, Lumami, Kohima 797001
• North Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022
• Arunachal University, PO Doimukh, Itanagar 791111
• Agartala College, Tripura West Agartala, 799004
• Manipur University, Imphal 795003
• Assam University, Silchar 788001
• Dibrugarh University, PO Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh 786004
• Guwahati University, PO Gopinath Bordoloi Nagar, Guwahati 781014
• University of Burdwan, PO Rajbati, Dist. Burdwan 713104
• University of Calcutta, Senate House, 87 College Street, Calcutta 700073
• Vidyasagar University, Midnapore 721102
• Rabindra Bharati Univ., Calcutta 700050
• Jadavpur University, Calcutta 700032
• Univ. of North Bengal, Darjeeling 734430
• Visva Bharati, PO Shantiniketan 731235
• Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Darbhanga 846008
• Jai Prakash University, Chapra 841301
• Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur 812007
• Ranchi University, Ranchi 834001
• Patna University, Patna 800005
• BR Ambedkar University, Muzaffarpur 842001
• Berhampur University, Bhanja Bihar, Berhampur 760007, dist. Ganjam
• Sambalpur University, Jyoti Vihar, Burla 768017, Sambalpur
• Utkal University, Po Vani Vihar, Bhubaneshwar 751004

Colleges Overseas
USA

• Alabama State University
• California State University, Long Beach
• Mills College
• American University, DC
• University of Delaware
• Florida State University
• Drake University, IA

UK

• University of Delaware
• Florida State University
• University of Kentucky
• International House Newcastle
• Elite College
• Leeds Metropolitan University School of Languages
• The Language Project School, Bristol

Australia

• University of Wollongong
• Macquarie University
• University of New South Wales
• University of Canberra

Source: Compass One

Date: 22nd Dec., 2009

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