Friday, October 22, 2010

Teaching, the noble profession

Teaching is regarded as the noblest of all professions in the world. The quality of education in any educational institute hinges on the availability of good teachers. A good teacher not only shows the right path that the students should follow but also prepares the human resource for the further development of the nation.

Teaching, the noble profession


Some find teaching appealing because it entails engagement in various extracurricular and other activities. Teaching as a profession has attracted quite a good numbers of young people in the recent years as the number of private and government educational institutes are increasing at a very high pace in India, as well as in the world.

As educational institutes vie for the best faculty, teaching jobs have become attractive more than ever before. Salaries of teachers are also rising and, apart from being a secure professional career, a teacher's job also entails shorter working hours and regular annual vacations. Moreover, once you are qualified as a teacher, you can also earn some extra money by offering private tuitions or opening up a coaching institute.

Teaching, the noble profession

The different areas of specialisation for being a teacher include teaching at nursery schools, primary schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities, institutes, special schools etc. Different kinds of expertise is required at each level. The very basic qualities of a teacher are that he/she would be patient, perseverant, ready to adapt to the demands of the students and have a pleasing personality. Students should look up to a teacher and should not be wary of him/her. To be popular among students, a teacher needs to understand their psychology and speak to them in their language.

Teaching, the noble profession

Courses in Teaching:

Pre-primary teachers:

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 cities.

Primary teachers:

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 teachers' training colleges.

Teaching, the noble profession

Some universities offer these courses through correspondence:

For service teachers to get trained, there are contact programmes for giving practical orientation. In 1996, the National council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has 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 master's degree level in the relevant subject from an Indian University or a foreign University. The eligibility test for lecturers, 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.

Teaching, the noble profession

Nursery teachers:
Training of 1-2 years at Polytechnics/ Vocational Training Institutes

After Graduation:
(Any school subject), a Bachelors 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.

Teaching, the noble profession

To be a successful teacher, one has to be passionate about the subject that one is teaching. It is one's interest in the subject that can secure one's future. Teaching should not be taken up as a back-up option. It should be taken up only if one strongly believes in oneself as a mentor because teachers are responsible for the future of many a student.

Teaching, the noble profession

Many school systems are quite similar — Australia and the UK, for example — so studying teaching in one country makes it easier for you to teach in the other. The certification requirements usually do not apply to temporary or casual teachers so it's quite possible to pick up teaching work wherever you want to go. So you can start your teaching career in another country as part of a working holiday, and then return home to work in a school armed with a global perspective on what works in the classroom, and what doesn't!

Source: Circle2Corner.com

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