Due to the widespread outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic, our lives depend largely on the internet. We meet and work with people virtually and this has become the new normal. With businesses being forced to move online, the edtech and e-learning sectors have benefitted the most and witnessed tremendous growth. Government and private schools/colleges alike have started conducting online classes on a daily basis.
These factors have contributed to the rise of thousands of job opportunities for qualified teachers. Irrespective of what your skill set is or where your expertise lies, you can become an expert instructor or teacher in the field and share your insights, experience and knowledge. In this article, we will not only list out solid reasons that will make you seriously consider becoming a teacher or professor but also walk you through some of the best opportunities for people who are passionate about teaching and imparting knowledge.
Most Popular Gateways to a Teaching Job
1. UGC NET
The University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) is a nationwide recruitment process conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) each year (since 2018) to shortlist deserving candidates for the role of an Assistant Professor or for a Junior Research Fellowship or for both the options. The UGC NET exam is conducted online and it could be your ticket to becoming an Assistant professor in an Indian college/University. Based on the 7th pay commission, an Asst. Professors can make anywhere between INR 55,000 to INR 79,000 based on the area of expertise, employer and the city the college/University is located in.
Over 10.3 lakh aspirants apply for the UGC NET each year while only about 8 lakh of them appear for the tests. Only 6000 odd candidates go on to become assistant professors and just over 4000 of them qualify for junior research fellowships. The odds are stacked heavily against you but the salary, associated benefits and the flexible work hours make it an exam worth attempting.
2. Bihar TET
The Bihar Teacher Eligibility Test more commonly referred to as the Bihar TET, unlike the UGC NET and CET, is a state specific recruitment process. It is conducted each year by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB). Candidates aspiring to become primary school teachers or upper primary school teachers at private/public schools in Bihar such as the KVs (Kendriya Vidhyalaya), Navodaya Vidhyalaya can appear for the Bihar TET.
The candidates may need to possess a graduate/postgraduate degree along with a B.Ed degree depending on the subject that they want to teach. The Bihar TET Syllabus and exam pattern will vary based on the area of specialization. The gross take home salary for Govt. school teachers in bihar may vary from INR 19,000 to INR 31,000.
Such exams are also held by most other states in India such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana etc.
3. CTET
The Central Teacher Eligibility Test aka the CTET is a nationwide recruitment process conducted twice every year by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to identify qualified candidates who can be appointed as teachers for classes 1 to 8 in schools across the country.
The exam pattern and selection process varies based on the classes one aspires to teach. If you want to teach for classes 1 to 5 then you will attempt the paper 1 while if you aspire to teach for classes 6 to 8 then you will have to appear for paper 2 of the exam. You can alternatively attempt both the papers if you are comfortable teaching any of the classes. The exam is conducted both in Hindi and English. The best part about the CTET is that the scorecard which was earlier valid only for 7 years is now valid for a lifetime.
Read Also: Vital Tips of Preparation to Crack NEET and JIPMER Entrance Examinations
On successfully clearing the CTET, you can make anywhere between INR 35,000 to INR 50,000 depending on your educational qualifications, classes you teach and the city in which you are working in.
When you are in a teaching job, no two days are ever the same. You will get a chance to interact with different personalities and experience diverse cultures. As the curriculum changes and our understanding of several subjects improve, you will also have a chance to improve your knowledge. The flexible working hours and number of vacation days that people in this profession enjoy are the icing on the cake. Last but not the least, the immense job satisfaction of empowering the future generations is probably the most important reason why you should pursue teaching as a profession.
Now that you have a very clear idea of your options, start applying and preparing for the exams right away!
