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Any takers for teaching?

With IT and corporate jobs ruling the roost, there are few takers for teaching as a career, says Anima Balakrishnan

REWARDING PROFESSION Only youngsters who see teaching as a vocation become teachers

For long it clung on to the `noble profession' tag. Our President and Prime Minister are both proud torchbearers of this occupation. Once a sought-after vocation and a passport to respectability, teaching as a career option is now at the crossroads.

The remuneration factor, mushrooming self-financing institutions and "seemingly greener pastures elsewhere" have made talented youngsters think twice before taking up teaching as a career.

"Teaching is no more a favoured career option among youngsters," says 27-year-old Vardan Kabra, an IIM-A graduate and director of the Fountainhead School in Surat. "It applies to teaching at the elementary as well as higher education levels," he elaborates.

Anna Mookken, a 27-year-old teacher of language skills, says, "I wonder if a job is done anymore for respectability and a sense of self-worth."

"If you can get a whopping starting salary in the IT industry, why would anyone struggle with lesson plans for a quarter of that amount?" she asks.

Leelavathy Sekar, Director, Centre for Women's Studies, Avinashilingam University, who considered teaching to be an evergreen profession, was in for a surprise when she conducted an impromptu survey among school children. "Most high school students wanted to be computer engineers and of the elementary level, the votes were for doctors, IAS officers and, even the police. Hardly a handful wanted to be teachers and some said they would not get enough in this profession."

Poor remuneration

But, for those who have been associated with Indian education for long, this trend comes as no surprise. "With comparisons with the corporate sector coming up in terms of salary and perks, teachers are bound to feel let down," says A.K. Sharma, former director of NCERT.

"So, youngsters will get into it only when all other doors are closed," he says.

"Earlier, teaching was taken up by people who were passionate about it or by those who liked the company of the young; now most are in it out of compulsion or accident," says P.E. Thomas, lecturer in communication at PSG College of Arts and Science.

The security of a permanent teaching job still ensures a steady demand for the B. Ed courses. But it is the motivation and inclination factors that are in question. "Teaching does not motivate youngsters, because there were no role models to inspire them in their student years," says Sharma.

Thomas agrees. According to him, with the stress being on accreditation, tags and stars, it's a different ball game for teachers. "They are bogged down by clerical jobs which limits their interaction outside classrooms," he adds.

For a youngster like Kabra who is trying out innovative methods of teaching at his school, it is "high time teaching broke free of the `noble profession' shackle."

"The remuneration must keep pace with the times," says Kabra. According to him, those who are making money in this field are doing so through "semi-legal or illegal" ways.

Professional approach

He does not shy away from calling it the education industry and emphasises the need to adopt a professional approach and, maybe, corporatise it. Why would a generation that saw schooling as a means for employment and learning life skills want to go back to it otherwise? He asks.

While agreeing on the need to revamp, Sharma says, "The present teacher training programmes have absolutely no inspirational content and are merely a licence for appointment."

According to him, strict norms and standards should be in place when it comes to private initiatives to ensure quality education and faculty competence.

For Sanjyot Apte, lecturer of Political Science, S.P. College, Pune, teaching is more about motivation than professionalism. "To generate interest among students within a typical framework is a challenge," says Dr. Apte. She believes in the social responsibility of the teacher and asserts the need for teaching to be a dialogue. "Out of the 60 students in my class, if three to four are motivated to take up teaching, that is a battle won," says Apte.

"There will be a point where it is just not about money, but your satisfaction," she hopes.

Sharma says the need is to talk to youngsters and create in them a sense of pride about teaching. "There are two aspects to teacher training. You prepare a teacher to teach subjects. And you prepare a teacher per se, with a whole set of skills and an intrinsic culture," he explains.

But the bottom line, the veterans say, is a love for teaching. "An e-class or a virtual class may be a reality soon, but there is no replacement for a real teacher," says Dr Apte.

There seem to be quite a few idealistic youngsters too. "I am here as I believe I can mould a generation," says 28-year-old Rosemary Abraham, a college lecturer.

"I just think it's a very rewarding career, not materially of course," says Anna. "The bottom line is that only those who truly see it as a vocation choose to do it and I suppose the numbers are fast diminishing," she concludes.

Why youngsters do not favour teaching

Remuneration not keeping pace with the times

Lure of the IT and management jobs with their fat pay packets

Seemingly not challenging enough, stagnating

Lack of enough role models during student days

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