Pre-primary teachers training
Most polytechnics and vocational training centres conduct training for pre-school teachers. The preferred eligibility is Class XII with 50% aggregate. Personal attributes are, however, more important. There are Montessori Teacher training schools which are privately owned in some large cities.
Primary teachers training
The elementary teacher education programmes in different States require matriculation or higher secondary pass as the entry qualification. Elementary teacher education programmes, offered by different institutions, award Diploma in education under different nomenclatures like JBT, ETE, D.Ed. etc. and are eligible for appointment as primary teachers (PRT) to teach classes I to VI or I to VIII.
Doctor Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya at Gour Nagar, Sagar 470003, Madhya Pradesh conducts a 2 year Diploma course after Higher Secondary to train teachers for primary teaching. While this is one institute, normally teachers with a Bachelors in education teach the Primary classes when they begin their career and gradually move up to teach higher classes. Graduates of Home Science also serve as primary teachers. University of Delhi offers Bachelors of Elementary Education B.Ele. Ed. (Elementary) of 4 years after 10+2 with 55%. There is an entrance test and interview.
Secondary and senior secondary teachers
B.Ed. is a course of one year duration which prepares teachers for secondary/senior secondary schools. Teachers having B.Ed. degree after graduation are called Trained Graduate Teachers. This training is imparted in teacher’s training colleges. There are separate institutions for special teachers such as teachers of the blind, deaf and dumb, mentally retarded, craft, music, etc.
Some universities offer these courses through correspondence for in service teachers to get trained. There are contact programmes for giving practical orientation. Regional Institutes of Education at Mysore, Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack and Ajmer are run by NCERT. They offer basic Graduate Degree in Art/Science along with teachers training. This course is of 4 years duration after school. Regional Institute of Education, Shyamala Hills, Bhopal 462013 www.riebhopal.ac.in (MP) selects students from MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and UT of Daman, Diu and Dadar and Nagar Haveli for B.Sc. Bed, MEd (Elem. Education) 2 years, BEd (Secondary), PG Diploma in Guidance and Counselling 1 year.
Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar, Sri Sankaracharaya University of Sanskrit, Ernakulum; Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati and Barkatullah University, Bhopal conduct BA, BEd. courses of 4 years duration. The latter offers B.Com. B.Ed. also. Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Udaipur offers B.Ed. in Child Development.
In 1996 the National council for Teacher Education (NCTE) had issued regulations for training of teachers. NCTE has issued following guidelines :
‘Those desirous of entering the Teaching profession at School level should seek admission only in a full time course with face to face classroom instructions. Do not join any course other than full time face to face training courses. Correspondence/distance education courses are meant for serving teachers only.’
Teachers at university level
With the revision of scales of pay of University and college teachers as per the Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Education, the University Grants Commission has revised minimum qualifications required for recruitment of teachers (Lecturers, Readers and Professors) in subjects other than Fine arts, management, Engineering and Technology in Universities and colleges. The revised qualification have come in effect from 1991. At the University level generally an M.Phil in the subject is required before a lecturer is appointed and promotions depend on further qualifications.
National Educational test (NET) is held by University Grants Commission (UGC) and UGC-CSIR for determining the eligibility for the award of Junior Research Fellowships(JRF) and for determining eligibility for recruitment of Lecturers in Universities and Colleges. The JRFs are given to a few top position holders in the NET-Examination depending upon total availability of funds.
The award of JRF to the eligible candidates depends on their finding placement in a University/National Laboratories/Institutions etc. Appointment of Lecturers is governed by the UGC rules and regulations. For candidates who desire to pursue research, JRF is available for five years subject to fulfillment of certain conditions. The UGC has allocated a number of fellowships to the Universities for the candidates who qualify the test for JRF.
The Test consists of three papers.
Paper I is of general nature intended to assess the teaching/research aptitude of the candidate. It is designed to test reasoning ability, comprehension and divergent thinking.
Paper-II consists of short questions(50 objective type items)based on the subject selected by the candidate.
Paper-III consists of only descriptive type of questions from the syllabus of the subject selected by the candidate. The option is to answer either in Hindi or English.
Eligibility - 55% marks (without grace) in Master’s Degree (or) equivalent examination in Humanities (including languages) and Social Sciences, Computer Applications, Electronic Sciences etc. For SC/ 50% marks (without grace) in Master’s degree.
Age - Lectureship -no upper age limit, candidates can appear any number of times. Junior Research Fellowship : Max 28 years of age on 1 Dec for General Category. Women, Physically Handicapped and candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC categories, a relaxation up to a maximum of five years is provided.
Candidates having research/training at P.G level are eligible for relaxation limited to the period spent on research/training in the subject (subject to maximum of five years. LLM degree holders get a 3 year relaxation.
For details on exemptions, subjects and syllabus for the test check out - www.ugc.ac.in
State level Eligibility Test (SLET) is applicable for Lectureship in Universities and Colleges in that particular state. SLET qualified Candidates are eligible to apply for State Funded Research Scholarship in the respective departments of State-aided Universities.
Lecturers
Lecturers in Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Commerce, Education, Physical Education, Foreign Language and Law require a good academic record with at least 55% or an equivalent grade at master’s degree level in the relevant subject from an Indian University or an equivalent degree from a foreign University is needed. Eligibility test for lecturers (NET) are conducted by UGC, CSIR or similar tests accredited by the UGC.
Lecturers in senior scale
They are appointed when they have completed 8 years of service after
regular appointment and participated in two refresher courses/summer institutes, of approved duration or engaged in other appropriate continuing education programmes of comparable quality as may be specified by the UGC. They should also have a consistently satisfactory performance appraisal report.
Lecturers (selection grade)
Senior scale lecturers who do not have a Ph.D. degree or equivalent published work and who do not meet the scholarship and research standards, but fulfill the other criteria and have a good record in teaching and/or participation in extension activities, get the Selection Grade.
Readers (open selection)
A good academic record with a doctoral degree of equivalent published work is required. Candidates from outside the university system in addition must have at least 55% marks or an equivalent grade at the Master’s degree level.
Teachers with eight years experience of teaching and/or research including upto 3 years for research degrees are considered. They should have made some mark in the areas of scholarship as evidenced by quality of publications, contribution to educational innovation, design of new courses and curricula.
Readers (promotion)
Lecturers in the senior scale are eligible for promotion to the post of Reader if they have - completed 8 years of service in the senior scale, obtained a Ph.D. degree or an equivalent published work, made some mark in the areas of scholarship and research as evidenced by self-assessment, reports of referees, quality of publications, contribution to educational innovation, design of new courses and curricula, participation in refresher courses/summer institutes of approved duration, or in other appropriate continuing education programmes of comparable quality as specified by the UGC after placement in the Senior Scale along with consistently good performance appraisal reports is required.
Professors
Selection is made from among eminent scholars with published work of high quality actively engaged in research with 10 years of experience in postgraduate teaching and/or research at the University/National level institutions, including experience of guiding research at doctoral level or from among outstanding scholars with established reputation who have made significant contribution to knowledge.
