Career Prospects in Teaching; Growth. Salary and Opportunities
Career Prospects in Teaching; Growth. Salary and Opportunities
Career Prospects in Teaching: Teaching is hailed to be a noble profession. Working with children and youths in schools and colleges is a creative, exhilarating, and rewarding endeavor. Teachers help students develop the knowledge and skills to better understand themselves and to participate in the world of work, opportunities, and nation-building.
Teaching is a profession and a prospective teacher is trained through a rigorous teacher preparation program held through various colleges/institutes/universities in India which are regulated and monitored by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), a statutory body of Govt. of India. Any teacher education degree or diploma obtained from an NCTE-recognised institution is valid for teaching jobs in government as well as in private schools across the country.
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Career Prospects in Teaching: Highlights
| Domain |
Job Roles |
Average Starting Salary (per annum) |
Recruiters |
Career Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Education (K-12) |
Primary Teacher, Secondary Teacher, Special Educator |
INR 3.5 - INR 5.5 LPA |
Public & Private Schools, International Schools |
Career can progress to Head Teacher, Principal, or Academic Coordinator |
| Higher Education |
Assistant Professor, Lecturer, Academic Researcher |
INR 5 - INR 8 LPA |
Universities, Colleges, Research Institutions |
Career can grow to Associate Professor, Professor, or Head of the Department. |
| Educational Administration |
School Principal, Academic Coordinator, Education Consultant |
INR 6 - INR 10 LPA |
Schools, Educational Consultancies, Boards |
Career can progress to the level of Director, Education Policy Maker |
| EdTech Industry |
Content Developer, Instructional Designer, Online Tutor |
INR 4 - INR 6 LPA |
EdTech Companies |
Career growth to Product Manager, Curriculum Head |
| Coaching and Test Preparation |
Subject Expert, Coaching Center Faculty |
INR 4 - INR 8 LPA |
Coaching Institutes |
Progression to Senior Faculty, Center Head |
| Corporate Training |
Corporate Trainer, Learning and Development Specialist |
INR 6 - INR 10 LPA |
MNCs, Training Institutes, HR Firms |
Growth to L&D Manager, Training Head |
| Education Policy and Research |
Policy Analyst, Education Researcher |
INR 5 - INR 8 LPA |
Government Agencies, NGOs, Think Tanks |
Progression to Senior Policy Advisor, Research Lead |
| Curriculum Design and Development |
Curriculum Developer, Educational Content Specialist |
INR 4 - INR 6 LPA |
Publishing Houses, EdTech Platforms |
Growth to Senior Curriculum Developer, Content Head |
| Special Education and Counseling |
Special Educator, Career Counselor, School Counselor |
INR 4 - INR 6 LPA |
Schools, Special Education Centers, NGOs |
Career growth to Senior Counselor, Program Coordinator |
| Early Childhood Education (ECE) |
Pre-primary Teacher, Montessori Educator |
INR 3 - INR 5 LPA |
Preschools, Montessori Schools |
Growth to Center Head, Preschool Director |
Demand for Qualified Teachers
There has been a greater demand for well-qualified and committed professionals in the field of teaching. The Government of India Labour Bureau quarterly survey (April – June 2017) shows that the education sector was the biggest job creator with about 99,000 jobs during the period (Times of India dated 20th Feb 2018). The government flagship programs in the field of education like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyaan (RMSA) and the implementation of the Right to Education as a fundamental right have further increased the demand for professionally qualified teachers in the country.
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Presently this fundamental right to education is applicable up to the eighth standard which is likely to be extended up to the tenth standard shortly. Seeing the huge demand for qualified teachers, the MHRD has also launched Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission for Teacher and Teaching (PMMMNMTT) indicating that teacher education is one of the top priorities of the Central Government.
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Desired Skills
The most important knowledge and skills required for a teaching job are mastery over content, effective communication, a caring nature for children, and pedagogical strategies. Generally, for a teaching job in school, the minimum qualifications (general and professional) are prescribed which differ as per the level of teaching assignment to be undertaken. For example, to become a teacher at the primary level (Class 1-5), one must have a 12th standard pass and a diploma in teaching; for middle and secondary (Class 8–10), a graduation degree and teacher training degree; and for higher secondary (Class 11-12), a post-graduate degree and teacher training degree. In the government sector jobs, one has also to clear the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) or the State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) of the state concerned, as applicable. In other words, a general degree like (BA, BSc, BCom, MA, MSc, MCom) with a teacher training degree (like DEd, BEd), or those having gone through integrated teacher training programs (like BElEd, BA BEd, BSc BEd) are eligible for teaching in schools. As per NCTE 2014 norms, the candidates with B.Tech qualification are also eligible to pursue a Bachelor of Education (BEd) course to allow them to be teachers in science and mathematics.
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Job Prospects in Teaching and Associated Domains
Depending upon the type and level of training and one’s will, a job seeker with a degree in teacher training has the opportunity to work in any of the following fields:
- Teaching in Schools
- Teaching in Education Colleges/General Colleges (with a master’s degree and above)
- Publishing House/Digital learning portal (as an instructional designer/content writer)
- Counselling Services
- Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) working in the education sector
- Coaching and tuition
- Educational Entrepreneurship
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1. Teaching in schools
After obtaining a formal qualification in teacher training, one can join schools as Assistant Teacher, Trained Graduate Teacher, or Post Graduate Teacher in government sectors like Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sainik Schools, Army/Navy/Air Force Public Schools, BSF Schools, ITBP schools and state government schools; or in private sector in a chain of national or international schools run by many educational trusts and charitable societies.
2. Instructional Design/Content Development
Those willing for sitting jobs than teaching can take up assignments like an instructional designer or content developers in companies providing digital or web-based learning services such as Sultan Chand & Sons, Educomp Solutions, Scholastic India, Extra Marks.com, etc. Nowadays, these educational content developers pay a handsome amount to the experts with subject specialization and self-instructional designs.
3. Non-government organizations (NGOs)
Professionally trained teachers, being skilled in various social and psychological fields are also engaged in education, child welfare, and development sectors. They can find gainful employment in NGOs like Pratham, Prayas, Room to Read, Yugantar, Shikshantar, Asha, Action Aid India, etc.
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4. Counselling Services
Graduates having teacher education degrees at a master’s level (e.g. Master of Education) with subject specialization in guidance and counseling can well work as school counselors or career counselors in academic institutions.
5. Educational Entrepreneurship
One can also think of opening a pre-primary/preparatory school, pre-primary teacher training institute, or any coaching institute independently, or on a franchise basis; with a certain level of investment. If able to invest more, one can also opt for opening primary or secondary schools in suitable locations.
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Professional Course at Different Levels
There are various kinds of courses available in diploma, degree, post-graduate, and specialized areas in the field of teacher training as listed below:
- Courses for teaching in pre-primary schools – Nursery Teacher Training (NTT), Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), Diploma in Pre-School Education (DPSE). Eligibility: 12th pass with 50 percent marks
- Courses for teaching in primary schools – Diploma in Education (D.Ed.), Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) – Class 6-8, Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.). Eligibility: 12th pass with 50 percent marks.
- Courses for teaching in secondary and senior secondary schools – Bachelor of Education (B.Ed), Eligibility: Graduation/Post graduation with 50 percent marks. BA BEd (integrated), BSc BEd (integrated), Eligibility: 12th pass with 50 percent marks.
- Courses for teaching in General Colleges/Teacher Education Colleges/District Institute of Education and Training – Master of Education (MEd), Eligibility: BEd / BEl Ed / BA BEd / BSc BEd with 50 percent marks.
- Courses in specialized fields – BEd (Special Education), M.Ed. (Special Education), MA (Adult Education), MEd (Educational Technology), MEd (Guidance & Counseling), and P.G Diploma - Educational Management & Leadership; can help a candidate to work in a specialized field/organization. Eligibility: Graduation or BEd degree as applicable.
- Courses as international programs – International Diploma in Guidance & Counseling (NCERT, New Delhi), International Diploma in Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA, New Delhi): Eligibility: Working professionals.
- Courses through distance mode – BEd (IGNOU & some state universities), BEd - special education (IGNOU, MP Bhoj Open Univ.), MEd. (IGNOU & some state universities); Certificate in Guidance, Diploma in Higher Education, MA (Distance Education), Post-graduate Diploma in Distance Education, Master of Education (IGNOU). Eligibility: Graduation or BEd degree as applicable.
- Courses in doctoral studies – PhD in Education (offered in Central, State, and Private Universities) in regular or part-time mode. Eligibility: Master’s degree in Education (or any related subject).
A student willing to take any teacher training course can opt for admission to any recognized institution in the government or private sector. The list of recognized institutions for professional teacher education programs at different levels is posted on the NCTE website. The prospective admission seekers are strongly advised to check the recognition status of the concerned institution in the list before they decide to take admission.
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About the Author:
Dr Ananda Padhan is the Head of the School of Education, Apeejay Stya University, Gurugram.
Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha