TEACHING Introduction

Teaching is a specialised job. It entails long term involvement with children and young adults and helping them through courses and solving their problems. Many people have an inborn desire to impart knowledge and for them a career in teaching is strongly recommended. This feature describes the opportunities available in teaching and how to go about becoming one.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not a profession to fall back upon when you have failed in everything else, but a highly responsible one, in which you can shape the minds of tomorrow.

ELIGIBILITY

The teaching profession has many myths about it. It is commonly believed that anyone can teach, provided he has some knowledge in the subject. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Knowledge is just one thing that a teacher should have among other things. The fundamental qualities required are excellent communication skills, the ability to hold the attention of young minds, to inspire confidence and finally, the ability to set an example by word and deed.

To enter schools, you should have a B.Ed degree. Colleges across the country offer these degrees. Some universities offer B.Ed courses by correspondence too. One can do the M.Ed later. As a matter of fact, M. Ed is only required to enhance your possibilities of promotion or getting the next higher grade. Incase you want to specialise as a nursery teacher only; you must undergo a special nursery teachers’ training, available in various universities. In case an individual plans to be a games/physical fitness instructor, he/she will need a certificate/ degree or diploma from any one of the sports institutes located around the country.

College and university teaching requires a different approach. After finishing M.A. in a subject, one can become a specialist by doing M. Phil. or Ph.D. To become a college lecturer, you will have to clear the NET exam conducted by the University Grants Commission (UGC). One can then apply to colleges for a job as and when a vacancy arises.

JOB PROSPECTS

There are two distinct branches in the social sector. The first is to work in an activist organisation, which actually helps the disadvantaged. If you have a genuine concern for doing something for the society, you ought to head for small set-ups in villages. The drawback is that small NGOs do not have adequate funds. Moreover, working for a crusader like Anna Hazare or Medha Patkar involves some amount of hardship. It requires a truly motivated person to go and stay in a village these days; the job of convincing people is tedious and trying.

However it must be said that working with hapless masses can be greatly satisfying.The second option involves working for the high profile NGOs featured in newspapers. They publish articles and hold seminars on wildlife conservation, environmental pollution, child labour and AIDS awareness. Many organisations in the country work in this way and solve problems through seminars, making films and publishing pamphlets. Such urban NGOs have good salary structures; so working with them is quite lucrative in terms of money and physical comforts.