For the love of teaching

With Teachers’ Day just around the corner, Beulah Pereira speaks to a few teachers to understand the teacher-training scenario and how it has changed

With reducing attention spans and increasing distractions, it takes more than mere talent to teach a classful of youngsters, who already know quite a bit—courtesy the Internet and other sources. It takes passion and dedication to educate the future generations of our country, and this is easier said than done. We may dedicate just one day in the entire year to teachers, but it takes years to perfect the knack of connecting with students and helping them understand concepts.

Who wants to be a teacher?

Our education system offers several options for people who would like to be teachers, including a basic Diploma in Teachers Education (D.Ted), a Bachelor in Education (B.Ed) and a Masters in Education (M.Ed). While the Diploma and Bachelor courses extend over a period of two years, the Masters degree is a year-long course.

Any of these courses would qualify you to teach. However to be a principal, a Bachelors degree is the minimum requirement. Avnita Bir, Principal, RN Podar School, tells us, “Apart from the basic B.Ed, higher degrees are add-ons. Also, different institutions require varying years of teaching experience to qualify for the post of a principal”. In minority institutions, principals are elected through management votes, whilst considering their years of service.

Eligibility

Clearing the 12th standard is the minimum qualification required to be eligible for the D.TEd. For the B.Ed programme, you need to be either a B.A, B.Sc or B.Com graduate. Lastly, a B.Ed is essential to qualify for the Masters degree.

But it doesn’t stop there. You also have to appear for entrance tests. The Maharashtra State Council of Examination (MSCE) conducts the Maharashtra State Eligibility Test (MH-SET). This test is for candidates aspiring to become teachers in primary and upper-primary sections of schools in Maharashtra.

College and university teaching posts require a different approach. After completing the B.Ed degree, you will have to clear the National Eligibility Test (NET), in order to become a college professor. The test is conducted by the University Grants Commission (UGC), and qualifies you to teach across India.

What’s the difference?

While the B.Ed qualifies aspirants to teach up to the 12th grade, the D.Ted qualifies you to teach till the 7th grade. “A D.Ted trains you in every subject, from art and craft to math and games, so you can teach any subject,” says Jennifer Pereira, Headmistress of the primary section,

St Stanislaus High School. “On the other hand, the B.Ed involves learning and training for a teaching post that can be done after a B.A, B.Sc. or B.Com. For instance, after a B.A in History, you will have to opt for a

B.Ed in History”.

Martina Correa, who teaches at Christ Church School explains, “The B.Ed course focuses on the content of the subject, followed by the methodology, i.e. how to teach the subject. Also, at the B.Ed level, you are graded on how well you learn, along with how well you teach”.

“M.Ed is the teacher-training course, where teachers are increasing their knowledge in a specific field, under the assumption that he/she already knows the subject,” explains Martina.

Aptitude Matters

It is one thing to know a lot about a subject, but it’s your ability to simplify it for students, that really matters. “You need to be motivated and versatile. You also need to have a desire to learn continuously,” says Avnita. “Keeping yourself updated on the subject you are teaching and working on your ability to connect with kids are the most important characteristics of a teacher. As technology takes up a significant part of our lives, being tech-savvy will help a great deal”.

Training Period

Gaining theoretical knowledge is just one aspect of teaching. Practical training is the other. “Institutions are now becoming increasingly conscious about this, and are trying to keep pace with the ever-changing trends and provide for individual development,” points out Avnita.

IB goes the extra mile

The International Baccalaureate institutions are very particular about the way they train their teachers. Not only do teachers have to do their basic degrees, but additional training is provided. “We are taught certain thinking skills, which we in turn teach the students. IB schools follow certain learner profiles, which play an important role in the way education is imparted,” says Patricia Rodrigues, special educator at Oberoi International School. “The students are enquirers and the teachers are the facilitators in the scheme of things in IB institutions,”

she adds.

Dealing with tough cases

Now, with the inability to use corporal punishment, verbal chastisement or even glare, it can be trying for teachers to deal with difficult students. “We are supposed to have a positive attitude and find ways to correct students positively. Even though researchers talk about using positive reinforcement and other ways to deal with students, it’s easier said than done,” says Jennifer.

Stating that this often leads to students being manipulative and taking the upper hand, Martina adds, “During practical training, we are graded on the basis of good noise and bad noise. Good noise involves productive discussions in class, while bad noise shows that the students are disinterested and the teacher does not have a firm hold over the class”.

“Every child has a different background; learning to identify this and working around it, is absolutely important to help the teacher deal with difficult cases,” says Darpan Vasudev, Vice President, NextDeeksha, a teacher-training platform. Dealing with a number of situations that teachers face, Darpan explains, “Over time, teaching patterns have changed. Adopted from the West, the banning of corporal punishment simply requires that teachers resort to other methods to maintain discipline in the class. At NextDeeksha, we aim to coach teachers to identify children of different temperaments. While only 10-15 per cent of the class may be troublemakers, we guide teachers to adopt the ‘play and learn method’ to establish a rapport with students”.

Source | Daily News Analysis | 1 September 2015