How to Become a Teacher at different levels
You can enter into teaching majors after 12th, Graduation and Post-Graduation. At every level,
different skills, abilities and qualifications are required
.
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
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, computer, 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.
3. Secondary School Teacher
Secondary School Teachers are known as TGTs (Trained Graduate Teachers). They instruct students
in classes 6th to 10th. As a Secondary School Teacher, you will be responsible for enhancing
students’ knowledge and help 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 behaviour, 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).
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.
Please Note: You can appear for CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) after completion of your
B.Ed. Cracking CTET will help you become a teacher in schools under the Central Government (e.g:
Kendriya Vidyalaya). You can also appear for STET (State Teacher Eligibility Test) cracking
which will enable you to become a teacher in schools under State Governments.
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.
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.