From inspiring to imparting knowledge to students, Teachers are like gardeners who transform little buds into blooming flowers through their care and nourishment. They put in their everything to help their students grow, develop and make it big in life. Teaching is thus a profession that makes a difference in society by shaping the personality, character, and perspectives of future generations.

Whether you become a pre-school teacher or a college professor, you need to possess an engaging personality, patience, thorough subjective knowledge, and excellent communication skills.

Career Roles & Responsibilities

1. Knowledge of the Subject

• To have expert knowledge of the subject area
• To pursue relevant opportunities to grow professionally and keep up-to-date about the current knowledge and research in the subject area 

2. Teaching

• To plan and prepare appropriately the assigned courses and lectures
• To conduct assigned classes at the scheduled times
• To demonstrate competence in classroom instruction
• To implement the designated curriculum completely and in due time
• To plan and implement effective classroom management practices
• To design and implement effective strategies to develop self-responsible/independent learners
• To promote students’ intrinsic motivation by providing meaningful and progressively challenging learning experiences which include, but are not limited to: self-exploration, questioning, making choices, setting goals, planning and organizing, implementing, self-evaluating, and demonstrating initiative in tasks and projects
• To engage students in active, hands-on, creative problem-based learning
• To provide opportunities for students to access and use current technology, resources, and information to solve problems
• To provide opportunities for students to apply and practice what is learned
• To engage students in creative thinking and integrated or interdisciplinary learning experiences
• To build students’ ability to work collaboratively with others
• To adapt instruction/support to students’ differences in development, learning styles, strengths, and needs
• To vary instructional roles (e.g. instructor, coach, facilitator, co-learner, audience) in relation to content and purpose of instruction and students’ needs
• To maintain a safe, orderly environment conducive to learning
• To comply with requirements for the safety and supervision of students inside and outside the classroom 

3. Assessment

• To define and communicate learning expectations to students
• To apply appropriate multiple assessment tools and strategies to evaluate and promote the continuous intellectual development of the students
• To assign reasonable assignments and homework to students as per university rules
• To evaluate students’ performances in an objective, fair and timely manner
• To record and report timely the results of quizzes, assignments, mid-and final semester exams
• To use student assessment data to guide changes in instruction and practice, and to improve student learning

4. Professionalism

• To be punctual and be available in the university during official working hours
• To comply with policies, standards, rules, regulations, and procedures of the university
• To prepare and maintain course files
• To take precautions to protect university records, equipment, materials, and facilities
• To participate responsibly in university improvement initiatives
• To attend and participate in faculty meetings and other assigned meetings and activities according to university policy
• To demonstrate timeliness and attendance for assigned responsibilities
• To work collaboratively with other professionals and staff
• To participate in partnerships with other members of the university’s community to support student learning and university-related activities
• To demonstrate the ability to perform teaching or other responsibilities, including good work habits, reliability, punctuality, and follow-through on commitments
• To provide and accept evaluative feedback in a professional manner
• To create and maintain a positive and safe learning environment
• To carry out any other related duties assigned by the department chairman

5. Good Behaviour

• To model honesty, fairness, and ethical conduct
• To model a caring attitude and promote positive interpersonal relationships
• To model correct use of language, oral and written
• To foster student self-control, self-discipline, and responsibility to others
• To model and promote empathy, compassion, and respect for the gender, ethnic, religious, cultural, and learning diversity of students
• To demonstrate skill when managing student behavior, intervening, and resolving discipline problems
• To model good social skills, leadership, and civic responsibility 

Career Education Path Summary

In India, you can enter into teaching majors after 12th, Graduation, and Post-Graduation.

At every level, different skills, abilities, and qualifications are required.

Let’s discuss each in detail.

1. Pre-Primary School Teacher

Pre-Primary School Teachers deal with children of 3 to 5 years. They are the first contact children have when they step out of their home for the first time. Pre-primary school teachers thus play an essential role in helping them learn the most basic concepts that will form the base for the rest of their education. They introduce their young students to the elementary concepts of alphabets, numbers, and basic moral ideas (like right and wrong) through the means of storytelling, colouring, painting, singing, and other interesting mediums.

• How to Become a Pre-Primary Teacher: You can pursue either of the two courses – Nursery Teachers Training (NTT) for 1 year or Diploma in Early Childhood Education (D.E.C.Ed.) for 2 years after class 12th.
• Some Institutes in India for pursuing NTT: Indira Gandhi Institute of Advanced Education (New Delhi), INDOSS Polytechnic for Women (Delhi), Mahatma Gandhi College of Education, (Delhi), Raja Ram Mohan Roy Institute of Vocational Studies (Chandigarh) etc.
• Some Institutes in India for pursuing D.E.C.Ed: State Council of Educational Research and Training (Delhi), University of Mumbai (Mumbai), Bombay Teachers’ Training College (Mumbai), etc.

2. Primary School Teacher

Primary School Teachers deal with children of 6 to 12 years. As a Primary School Teacher, you have to make students learn and experience new things in life that will shape their views and build their cognitive, verbal, numerical, and reasoning skills. Instead of specializing in 1-2 subjects, you’ll be responsible for teaching them a broad range of concepts, including introducing them to sentences, computers, language, quizzes, interactive sessions, personality development, sciences, social sciences, life, and social skills. Through this, you’ll develop some basic concepts and form the foundation that will stay with them throughout their lives.

• How to Become a Primary School Teacher: You can pursue any one of the courses mentioned – Elementary Teacher Education (ETE) for 2 years, Bachelor’s in Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) for 4 years, or Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) for 2 years.
• Some Institutes in India for pursuing ETE: District Institute of Education and Training (Meghalaya), District Institute of Education Training (Bhopal), Ramakrishna Teacher Training Institute (New Delhi), etc.
• Some Institutes in India for pursuing B.El.Ed: Lady Shri Ram College (Delhi), Gargi College (Delhi), BansidharMahavidyalaya (Uttar Pradesh), Central Institute of Education (New Delhi), Aditi Mahavidyalaya (New Delhi), etc.
• Some Institutes in India for pursuing D.El.Ed: District Institute of Education and Training (Tura), Primary Teachers Education College (Bhojpur), etc.

3. Secondary School Teacher

Secondary School Teachers are known as TGTs (Trained Graduate Teachers). They instruct students in classes from 6th to 10th. As a Secondary School Teacher, you will be responsible for enhancing students’ knowledge and helping them learn all the subjects in greater depth. In shaping the attitudes and intellect of these pre-teens and fresh teenagers, your work would range from delivering lessons in subjects such as social science, science, languages, and mathematics, to teaching them time management, appropriate behavior, giving them feedback, and criticism, and supporting them through changes.

• How to Become a Secondary School Teacher: You can pursue a Bachelor’s in Education (B.Ed) for 2 years after graduating from a teaching subject (non-professional, degree courses).
• Some Institutes in India for pursuing a B.Ed: University of Delhi (Delhi), Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi), Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (Delhi), Department of Education (Banasthali University), Jaipur, etc.

4. Senior Secondary School Teacher

Senior Secondary School Teachers are known as PGTs (Post-Graduate Teachers) who teach in-depth on a particular subject they have completed their Master’s degree in. They instruct students from class 11th and 12th. As a Senior Secondary School Teacher, you’ll have to lecture and discuss concepts with students in detail, organize workshops/seminars for students, grade tests and conduct progress reports, prepare materials for class notes and presentations, and communicate students’ progress to parents.

• How to Become a Secondary School Teacher: You need a Post-Graduation degree in a teaching subject (non-professional, degree courses) and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree. You can pursue post-graduation in any discipline.

5. Special Educator

In Special Schools, you work as a Special Educator. As a Special Educator, you have to deal with children with physical, emotional, and mental challenges and learning disabilities. You will work closely with their families to achieve the best educational outcome for them, teach them basic life and social skills for their personality development, and make them understand academic concepts through personalized one-to-one sessions.

• How to Become a Special Educator: After your graduation, you need to pursue a Bachelor’s in Education (B.Ed.), specializing in Special Education.
• Some Institutes in India for pursuing B.Ed. in Special Education: Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (Delhi), Indian Institute Of Health Education and Research (Bihar), Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi), Kurukshetra University (Kurukshetra), Banaras Hindu University (Uttar Pradesh), etc.

6. Lecturer/ Professor

The lecturers are designated as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or a Professor. As a Lecturer/ Professor, you have to give lectures on assigned topics, conduct academic research, and assist students in doing their own research work. After completing a Master’s degree in your chosen field, you will have to appear for the UGC-NET examination.

The National Eligibility Test (NET) is conducted for determining the eligibility of Indian Nationals for Assistant Professorship or Junior Research Fellowship. The exam is conducted twice a year particularly in the month of June and November.

A teacher is an influencer, mentor, guide, parent, friend, and most importantly a role model to look up to. A good teacher is like a candle, it consumes itself to light the way for others and no one can tell where their influence stops, for the impact they create lasts a lifetime. So, why not tread down the lane of teaching to impact the world and create a better-educated society to live in