Introduction
If you’ve always been fascinated with teaching, then the choice of becoming a primary school teacher might seem like an easy one. But before you decide to go down this road of yours, there are many things that you need to know first. This article will help you get answers to all your questions and clear out any confusion that may arise while pursuing such a career path.
So, if you have been trying to find out about how to become a teacher for the primary section, Let’s begin by finding out about the qualifications that you need to become a successful primary school teacher.
Qualifications for a primary school teacher
To start the journey of becoming a primary school teacher, you must have a higher secondary degree with minimum 50% marks. There are some teaching courses which you can begin right after your higher secondary education. For example, a Montessori teacher training program.
Most other qualifications for a primary teacher require a graduate degree with minimum 50% marks. These include:
Basic teacher training certificate
It is a two-years certificate course recognised by the Government of India. Topics like early education, child development and learning process, and other similar subjects are taught in this course. After completion, learners are eligible to apply for primary teacher posts. Some learners also opt to become home tutors or start their own primary learning centres.
Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed)
Bachelor of elementary education is a 4-year undergraduate program that equips learners with the skills and knowledge to teach children from age 6-12. Learners of this program get to acquire understanding of subjects like child psychology and cognitive development. They also receive training in practices and approaches in elementary education, lesson planning, etc.
Bachelor of Education (B.Ed)
Although the B.Ed degree is a bachelor program, it is not a common undergraduate degree. It is a professional degree that requires a bachelor’s degree with 50%-55% marks. It is a 2-year course that offers extensive training to aspiring teachers on a wide range of topics. They include curriculum and pedagogy, understanding and using technology in the classroom, health and physical education, and many more.
Online teacher training courses
While these above-mentioned courses are the conventional choices that most people go for, they are a few online teacher training courses that are as impactful and as well-accepted as these degrees. Some of these online courses are also globally accepted. And today, several aspiring teachers are in fact opting for them over the conventional choices.
One such popular online teacher training course is PgCTL. Let’s find out a little more about the program in detail.
PgCTL
PgCTL is an industry-recognised teaching qualification that has been awarded by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai, UAE. This course has global validity as it is also approved by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (UK Ofqual). Not just that, this course also comes with exclusive tie-ups with Awards for Training and Higher Education (ATHE), Norwich, UK; Indian School Of Business and Computing, Bangalore, India; The British University in Dubai – BUiD, Dubai, UAE among others.
Made for aspiring and in-service teachers, It is a self-paced and hands-on course that stresses on teaching real-life classroom skills more than theoretical concepts. This course takes care of the classroom dynamics of the 21st century schools including technology in teaching and learning, ethics and value in the classroom, innovative pedagogy, and so on. No wonder, it is ranked one of the best teacher training courses by several teachers across the world.
Summing Up
Teaching is a very rewarding and honourable profession. It helps in shaping the future of many kids, who will later become productive members of society. The reason why this profession is so popular among all is because it gives you an opportunity to work with different people from different backgrounds, which teaches you how to interact with them and understand their needs better.
You can also opt to gain first-hand experience of working with primary school kids by doing an internship at your local school district during summers or afternoons as part of your studies so that when graduation day comes around again, there will be something concrete behind why exactly you want to become a teacher someday. We hope this article has helped you find the right career path for your future. If you are still unsure about how to begin your career as a primary school teacher, book a counselling session with a Suraasa mentor today.