Published on September 9th, 2020 | by Bibhuranjan

Four Ways you can Embrace Being a Teacher

When it comes to nobility at the workplace, Teaching is one of the more respectable professions that you can opt for as a career prospect. And exams like STET, NET, CBSE-NET, SLET or SET, CSIR-NET, UGC-NET, PRT, CTET, TGT, PGT act as perfect gateways to fabricating such a future. For instance, if the candidate is able to clear the CTET cut off, he/she seals a bonafide future in teaching. Moreover, these are just some of the few eligibility tests that offer respectable teaching positions with decent salaries.

While some bodies conduct these exams to offer positions like Assistant Professor and Professor, others offer vacancies for primary and elementary school teachers, once the exam is cleared. Be it any position or institution, these exams provide you with a golden chance to inspire and motivate the coming generation and shape their futures, so that they can realize and exceed their potential.

On that note, let’s talk about some of the exams that you can crack, in order to forge an impressive teaching career in colleges/universities/schools.

CTET (Central Teachers Eligibility Test) – Conducted twice a year by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), CTET shortlists candidates for appointment as teachers in classes I to VIII. Paper I is conducted for candidates who plan to teach classes I-V and Paper II is conducted for candidates opting for classes VI-VIII. In order to make it to the merit list of the CTET result, the candidate is expected to score 60% for qualification in General category and 55% for reserved category.
KSET (Karnataka State Eligibility Test) – Conducted by the Karnataka State Eligibility Test (KSET) Center, University of Mysore, Mysore (which is the nodal agency recognized by the UGC), KSET shortlists aspirants for the post of lectureship/Assistant Professor in Karnataka. Once qualified, the selected candidates are governed by rules put forth by the Lecturers / Assistant Professors of Universities / Institutions (Government/ Aided /Private) / Colleges of Karnataka State. There is no stipulated upper age limit to meet in the eligibility criteria for KSET.
UGC NET (University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test) – UGC conducts NET to shortlist Indian citizens for the posts of Assistant Professor only or Junior Research Fellowship & Assistant Professor, both in Indian Universities and Colleges. The combined performance of the appearing candidate in Paper-I and paper-II of UGC-NET is evaluated to award the Junior Research Fellowship and/or Eligibility for Assistant Professor. Ideally, this exam is held in the month of June every year, and all candidates filling the form should possess a postgraduate degree with 55% marks as the minimum requirement. Both papers combine for a duration of 3 hours and do not contain negative marking.
CSIR NET (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Eligibility Test) – Also known as CSIR UGC NET, this exam is conducted twice every year at the national-level by the National Testing Agency (NTA), and is meant for appointment of deserving candidates as lecturers in Indian universities and colleges and select candidates for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). It is only conducted for five subjects, namely, Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean & Planetary Sciences. And therefore, candidates who are able to clear the CSIR NET exam eventually become lecturers in the subject areas that fall under the faculties of Technology and Science only.

The two major ingredients that are required to be a competent teacher is grip over subject matter and the clarity of thought to explain concepts effortlessly. Teachers lay the conceptual foundations of all students and even though they never tend to get their share of the spotlight, their role can never be underestimated. Although their efforts are often overlooked in the long run, students often find themselves tracing their steps back to the basics at various stages of life. The groundwork provided in schools/colleges plays an even deeper role than just academics, and helps the student overcome the different challenges life throws.

It is not easy to be the role model and shape the futures of youngsters, and that’s why not everyone is cut out for this job. Teaching asks for intense patience along with expertise and specialisation in your domain. Also, attaining mastery over a subject and being a good teacher of that subject are two different things. Moreover, with the changing times and surge in digital education, it has become a profession demanding high adaptability. The aforementioned eligibility tests are just some of the ways one can enter this noble profession.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Tags: CTET exam, teaching, textbooks

About the Author

Bibhuranjan Editorial Officer, technofaq.org I'm an avid tech enthusiast at heart. I like to mug up on new and exciting developments on science and tech and have a deep love for PC gaming. Other hobbies include writing blog posts, music and DIY projects.