The education stream deals with the education and guidance of learners of varying group ages. Educators in this field are responsible for the formulation, review, creation, and implementation of pedagogical systems to teach students and adults the subject of their specialization.
The education sector is vast in its purview and includes educators from formative years to higher education; popular specialisations include ECCE, counselling, special education, adult education, and institutional administration.
Undergraduate degrees offered for education include-
The eligibility criteria for students aspiring towards an education degree are as follows-
There are several state and institution-wise entrance tests held across the country for admission into B Ed courses, some of which include-
B Ed entrance exams are divided into two papers. Each section carries equal weightage and is worth 50 marks:
Paper 1
Paper 1 consists of a mandatory Part A assessing the candidate’s general knowledge and language section in Part B in which candidates may choose between Hindi and English.
Paper 2
Paper 2 consists of a mandatory Part A assessing the candidate’s general aptitude and a subject ability test in Part B in which candidates may choose the topic of their specialisation.
Entrance exam paper patterns may vary depending on the state, university, and specialisation in question.
Some of the top colleges in India for Education and B Ed courses are as follows-
Students may gauge their aptitude for teaching with the following criteria:
Some of the best and most lucrative education specialisations and career profiles for the future include-
B Ed programmes in India span over two years and four semesters. Students are assessed on a grade-point average (GPA)/percentage basis through internal assessments and end-semester written exams. Before pursuing a B Ed course, candidates have to clear their undergraduate honours course in the subject of their choice, usually spanning over three to four years.
B Ed courses cover subjects like school subject pedagogies, critical understanding of ICT, drama and art in education, inclusive school creation, gender, school and society, contemporary India and education, and language across the curriculum.
Besides written tests and evaluations to strengthen the theoretical understanding of their subject of choice and curriculum, B Ed students are also given practical in-classroom training to get acquainted with pedagogical techniques in classrooms with children from various linguistic, cognitive, economic, social, and cultural backgrounds.
The average fee structure for B Ed in India ranges between 5,000 to 1 lakh rupees. The fee structure can vary depending on the university/college and course/specialization of choice. Part-time/correspondence B Ed courses have lower fees (within 10,000 rupees).
Scholarships for education programmes and teaching courses include-
Gaining in-class teaching experience through internships is a vital and often mandatory requirement for education students. Most colleges have Training and Placement (T&P) cells to help students gain industry experience through professional training sessions and internships.
B Ed students must mandatorily attend school internship programmes for in-class experience with students and to inculcate practical teaching aptitude, communication abilities, and soft skills.
Before delving into school internships, first-year B Ed candidates have to participate in “pre-internship activities”, where they observe in-class teacher-student and teacher-parent interactions to inculcate a comprehension of classroom teaching techniques, and the school curricula and regulations. B Ed candidates have to prepare and submit an analytical report of their experience and skills learnt during the pre-internship activities.
After completion of pre-internship training, B Ed candidates have to complete a mandatory full-time school internship where they will be involved first-hand in the school’s educational and extra-curricular programmes and involve themselves in activities such as community service campaigns, student case studies, surveys, and research projects. Upon completion of the school internship, candidates have to submit reports of the internship and a reflective diary submission tracking the developments of each day.
Several foreign universities offer education and teaching programmes, some of the popular ones being Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
Pursuing B Ed/other education and teaching courses abroad offer ample opportunities to become an educator in schools of that respective country. It is thus important for students to adequately research the country’s schooling system, the curricula followed, and the qualifications required before choosing a college and course.
The leading colleges offering B Ed and other educational courses are as follows-
Some of the best countries to teach in include China and South Korea for career availability and job perks, Thailand for non-native English educators, Spain for a balanced work-life structure, and United Arab Emirates for high salaries.
After completing their education degrees, students may choose from various career prospects in public and private institutions depending on their specialisations. Some of the popular career prospects in education include:
The average starting salaries for educators and teachers range between 2-4 LPA.
Salaries vary with job profiles, educational qualifications, level of teaching, sector (public or private), and also cities and states. A school teacher’s average salary in India ranges between 3-9 LPA, while that for a college/university professor or lecturer ranges between 6–18LPA. An educator’s salary will increase proportionally to their educational qualifications.
Institutional administrators, school superintendents, principals, professors, high school teachers, and instructional coordinators are some of the most lucrative career profiles in the education sector.
Candidates interested in pursuing a career in education may also consider the following streams and subjects-
Which is the highest-paying career in the education sector?
University administration and school superintendency are a few of the highest-paying career specialisations in the education sector. Other lucrative education career profiles include college/university professors, principals, instructional coordinators, special education teachers, and high school teachers.
What qualifications are required to be a government teacher in India?
The basic qualifications to work as a government teacher in India include acquiring a B Ed degree with graduation in any subject (preferably the subject they will teach), a master's degree in the subject of their choice for teaching in higher-secondary classes, and clearing the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) / Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) / State Teacher Eligibility Test (STET) exams.
Can a teacher apply for administration jobs?
Yes, a teacher can apply for administration jobs. Most school administration jobs require a minimum of two to three years of teaching experience and a licensed teaching degree; specific requirements for administrators vary according to the institution’s guidelines.
Is an M.Phil./doctorate compulsory for higher education jobs?
A doctorate (PhD) degree has been compulsory for higher education positions such as assistant professorship. However, the University Grants Council (UGC) mandated in 2022 that PhDs are no longer mandatory for teaching in central universities to allow experienced industry professionals to impart their knowledge. The UGC aims to create new designations for such educators without PhDs such as Professors/Associate Professors of Practice.
Though priorly mandatory for pursuing a PhD, the M Phil degree is no longer a compulsory requirement for acquiring a doctorate. However, acquiring an M Phil degree can be valuable for aspiring doctorate applicants and adds to the educational qualifications of the student.
Candidates have to appear for and clear the National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) to qualify for doctoral and research programmes.
Can I get into teaching from another stream?
A professional from any stream can work in the education sector as long as they have the required educational qualifications in their subject and specialisation and have an impetus to propagate the knowledge and industry skills they have acquired over the years. There are also education careers as freelance educators and tutors and several teaching jobs in the non-profit (NGO) sector which have less strict qualification restrictions.