A Career in Teaching
The education system is divided into levels: Pre school/Nursery school, Primary School, Secondary School, Higher Education/ Intermediate/College/University. Pre-School/Nursery Training is also called Montesori Training. Basic qualification for a nursery teacher training course is a pass in 10+2/equivalent examination with 50% marks. Duration is 1-2 years. Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) training is offered at three different levels: Infant (ages 0-3), primary (ages 3-6), and elementary (ages 6-12). Each course includes developmental psychology,Montessori theory, and practical, hands-on classroom training, as well as observation and practice teaching under training centre guidance in approved, AMI-staffed Montessori classrooms. AMI training courses last a minimum of one academic year and are full-time. Course of Study: Some AMI courses are offered over a period of two or three consecutive summers, with interim work.
Special Education Teacher
The Special Education Teacher is specially trained to teach children with physical and/or emotional debilities. The task of these teachers is to adapt to the need of the students individually and provide accordingly. They have to be ingenious, innovative and unflagging in spirit. The work is extremely challenging and physically and emotionally taxing. Progress may be sometimes very tardy and negligible, but the teacher should possess the tenacity and grit to plod on. The Profession: These teachers are involved in imparting classroom education as well as training in day to day activities including eating, playing and toilet training. They trace children at the elementary, middle, secondary school level as well as work with infants and toddlers. Their aim is to make the child as independent as possible by teaching him functional skills for daily living. It is crucial for the teacher to establish clear and lucid communication links with the parents and siblings of the disabled child. Also the teacher should interact closely with the therapists of the child in order to be able to achieve consummate development of the child's overall personality. Job Market: The special education teacher can find employment in special education schools, counselling centres and in government bodies.
Training Programme:
Various specialised Special Education Courses are available. The aspirant can either opt for a Diploma Course after the plus two level or be a gra-duate and complete a Special Education teaching degree. Diploma in Special Education (Mental Retardation) DSE (MR) and Diploma in Special Education (Hearing Impaired) DSE (HI) are the two significant Diploma courses available. Duration: 10 months followed by 3 months Internship. Eligibility: 10+2 or equivalent. Course content: Consists of practical exercises to develop skills in education training, management and care of persons with specific debilities. No tuition fee is charged for the course. A nominal stipend is paid to the candidate during the period of training and internship. Selection is on the basis of merit. Candidates with experience of working in the field are preferred. After graduation, an aspirant can go for BEd. in Special Education, which is a 1 year programme. An M.Ed. in Special Education is also available. It is a 1 or 2 year programme which covers advanced levels in Educational Psychology, Educational Technology, Educational Statistics, Administration and Management of Special Education etc. A dissertation has to be submitted in partial fulfilment of the programme.
