Teaching And Education Careers: Discover The Opportunities To Inspire, Lead, And Grow

Parama Gupta 10 Mins Read

Parama Gupta

Does your child want to become a teacher and have a successful career in teaching? Here are some tips for your child on how to become a teacher and the basic requirements for the teaching profession

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'Teaching is the profession that creates all the other professions,' goes an old adage. Quite true! Teaching is not only the mother of all professions, but can also be a very fulfilling job.

A teacher imparts knowledge and develops a student's talents by tapping into their potential to ensure they have a successful future. Besides honing the skills of a student, a teacher's job also involves the all-important task of character-building and personality development. Yes, the responsibilities are immense. But, so are the rewards. The self-fulfilment that comes with the knowledge that one has been instrumental in shaping a person's future is unmatched by any lucrative reward that other professions may offer.

In India, there is a huge demand for well-trained and highly motivated teachers at all levels. Teaching can actually be quite an exciting career path. And, if your child shows an inclination for it, then you should do all in your power to back them in their pursuits.

Requirements for teaching

Professional skills

When it comes to professional skills, a teacher should possess the following -

an in-depth knowledge of existing theories and concepts in one's subject
a knack for research
a drive to constantly update knowledge based on the latest developments in the subject

Besides the skill set mentioned above, a good teacher should also possess the following traits:

Excellent communication skills
Leadership skills
Creativity and innovation
Patience and understanding
Self-confidence and assertiveness
Discipline
Honesty and integrity
Fairness and impartiality
Positive outlook towards life

So, if your child is serious about pursuing this career path, you need to motivate them and help them develop skills that will come in handy in the future.

How to become a teacher

Here's a look at the educational requirements and other special qualities that one needs to become a good teacher:

Mainstream education

Mainstream educational institutions include schools and colleges. Let us explore the job profile and the qualifications required for a teacher at different stages of mainstream education.

Elementary education (School level)

Teaching qualifications for the Preschool and Kindergarten stage

A teacher handling preschool children needs to undergo special training for nursery education. After passing the class XII exam, they should undertake a diploma course in Nursery Teacher Training. Montessori training can also come in handy here.

A teacher at this level has to have a way with tiny tots and be able to handle their various moods. Also, they have to be highly imaginative to capture the attention of young children and introduce basic concepts in a way that will stay with them for a long time. They have to be a storyteller, singer, actor, and much more, all at once.

Teaching qualifications for the Primary school and Elementary school stages

While the primary school stage includes classes I to V, the elementary school includes classes VI to VIII. Here, a teacher is not expected to have specialisation but has to teach the basics of all subjects.

At the primary school stage, the foundations of mathematics, science, and grammar are laid. Children of this age group can be difficult to control at times, and the teacher needs to exert command over the class, besides providing a friendly atmosphere and making learning a fun-filled affair.

At the elementary school stage, the basic concepts of the core subjects are built upon and strengthened. Handling students at this stage demands a lot of the teacher's energy, as they have to pay attention to the progress of each and every student in the class.

To become a teacher at these two levels, your child needs to have a diploma in teacher education after completing their school education course.

Teaching qualifications for the High school stage

To teach students of classes IX and X, your child will need to possess a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree, which they have to take up after the completion of a Bachelor's degree in a specific discipline like arts (English, History, Geography, etc.) or science (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, etc.)

A B.Ed. course will prepare your child by training them on various aspects of education, which include theories of education, teaching methodologies, practices in classroom management, handling examinations, and so on.

While a B.Ed. course is generally completed in two years, some institutions offer Integrated Teachers' Training Programmes of five years (where a regular graduate course is combined with a teacher education course).

Teaching qualifications for the Higher Secondary stage

To teach students at the higher secondary stage (classes XI and XII), a teacher needs to be specialised in a particular subject by completing a master's degree in addition to the B.Ed. degree. They have to be thorough in their subject of specialisation.

Note: Apart from acquiring the basic qualifications, a candidate will also need to clear National and State Level exams (such as the CTET - Central Teacher Eligibility Test) to be eligible to teach in schools.

Teaching Qualifications for Higher Education (Colleges and Universities)

For teaching at the college level, aspirants are required to first have a master's degree in their chosen subject with a minimum of 55 per cent marks.

They should then clear eligibility tests such as the National Eligibility Test conducted by the UGC twice every year for various disciplines, or State Eligibility Tests conducted by universities in various states of India.

Further, completing an M.Phil. or doctoral degree adds to the chances of growth in terms of position and salary.

Teaching qualifications for undergraduate level

At this stage, a teacher, referred to more commonly as a lecturer or a professor, has to handle students who have come fresh out of school. The teacher, at this stage, has the huge responsibility of initiating students to a new way of academic life. Besides delivering lectures, they have to help students adapt themselves to the habit of self-study and have to aid them in developing their voice and shaping their worldview.

A teacher may not get the luxury of time to devote to every student, but has to make time occasionally to interact with them and give feedback on their work.

Teaching qualifications for postgraduate level

At the PG level, students are expected to have gained the preliminary level of training in their respective fields and come to gain mastery over the subject.

Not deviating much from the style of teaching at the UG level, the teacher's focus should be on adding to the already existing knowledge the student has gained and guiding them to develop their research and original thinking skills. From this stage onwards, the teacher begins to assume the role of a guide who has to encourage students to work on their own.

Non-mainstream options

Besides teaching in mainstream educational institutions, your child also has the option of considering teaching in non-mainstream ones like language centres or soft skill training centres. Even in these places, the rewards of teaching are high. Here, a trainer gets to interact with a variety of individuals and help them acquire certain skills.

Besides, special needs educators are also much in demand. Such educators work with children who have learning difficulties. This area calls for immense dedication and mental robustness.

Several professionals working in fields like banking, medicine, engineering, or management later become a part of the teaching fraternity in their chosen fields and pass on their expertise and knowledge to the new crop of professionals.

Also Read: What It Takes To Be A Good 21st Century Teacher

Other teaching opportunities

Becoming a teacher opens up career opportunities in various fields. In addition to schools and colleges, there are private teaching institutions like coaching centres, tuition classes, and training institutes that require the services of teachers. Moreover, a qualified teacher can also become an entrepreneur by starting their own tuition centre to teach students. Other career options in this field include school administrator, educational consultant, academic advisor, private tutor, and textbook author.

Career in teaching after 12th

Here's a list of courses that you can consider for your child to pursue a career in teaching, after the 12th standard:

B.Ed. – Bachelor of Education
B.A. + B.Ed. (Integrated) – Bachelor of Arts + Bachelor of Education (Integrated Course)
B.Sc. + B.Ed. (Integrated) – Bachelor of Science + Bachelor of Education (Integrated Course)
B.El.Ed. – Bachelor of Elementary Education
B.P.Ed. – Bachelor of Physical Education
D.El.Ed. – Diploma in Elementary Education
D.P.Ed. – Diploma in Physical Education
D.E.C.E. – Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education
D.N.T.T. – Diploma in Nursery Teacher Training
D.T.Ed. – Diploma in Teacher Education
B.T.C. – Basic Training Certificate (or Basic Teachers Course)
J.B.T. – Junior Basic Training

Teaching as a service to society

A large group of youngsters across India today leads the teaching movement by taking up voluntary teaching activities. Initiatives like Bhumi, Hindustan Paathshala, and Teach for India have taken the lead in turning teaching into a service of national importance. These organisations rope in young volunteers to impart elementary education to children belonging to underprivileged sections of society. Some of them also provide remuneration to volunteers. Several youngsters have left well-paying jobs in the corporate sector to pursue teaching as a career, while others teach part-time even while working in regular jobs.

If you want to inspire your child to take to this noble profession, you can encourage them to volunteer at one of these organisations where they can get on-the-job training and can use this experience later when they pursue this career full time.

Becoming a teacher is not only rewarding as a profession, but also hugely gratifying as a service to the younger generation. So, if your child is really passionate about taking up a career in teaching, lend them all your support and encouragement to realise their noble dream. As American politician Brad Henry said, "A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination and instill a love of learning," and you'll be proud that your child is one.