Align with your goal

Uncertain about your career options? Low on self-condence? This career counselling column may help

Nandini Raman

I have done a B.Ed. in Physics and a BCA but do not have a B.Sc. in the subject. Can I become a teacher in a government school? Gaurav

Dear Gaurav,

How and where did you do your B.Ed in Physics with a BCA and not a B.Sc in Physics? Is your B.Ed degree valid? Do you want to teach the students Physics or Computer Science? What age group or class do you wish to teach and, most importantly, what are you eligible to teach?

To be a Primary Teacher (PRT), Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) or a PostGraduate Teacher (PGT) in a government school, you need to qualify for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) conducted by the CBSE or the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) exam conducted by concerned state government. For PRT, the minimum eligibility is a Senior Secondary School certificate with 50% marks or its equivalent, a pass in the CTET or TET and a two-year diploma in education (D.Ed) or Bachelor in Elementary Education (B.EL.Ed.). To be a TGT, you need a four-year Integrated degree from NCERT’s Regional College of Education in the concerned subject with at least 50% aggregate, or a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% aggregate in the concerned subjects and a B.Ed. from a recognised university and a pass in the CTET or TET. A PGT requires a two-year Integrated PG course from NCERT’s Regional College of Education in the concerned subject or a Master’s degree from a recognised university with at least 50% aggregate in the specific subjects and a B.Ed from a recognised university.

Check the specific requirements of the government schools you want to teach in and reach out to the education authorities for more specific information on the academic qualifications required.

I am in the last semester of the Hotel Management course at IHM. To work abroad, should I first pursue PG? If so, which institutes should I look at? Gundeep

Dear Gundeep,

Pursuing a PG abroad depends on your career goals and finances. Identify and understand your long-term goals. If this involves advanced qualifications, pursuing a PG may be beneficial.

Otherwise look for international job placements in hotels, resorts and establishments abroad. Check with your institute’s placement cell for leads or research online. Look up the websites of international hotel chains for job openings. Consider international internship programmes. Are you open to event management, cruise line services, bartending or luxury hospitality? These may have international opportunities.

For your PG, you could consider a Master’s in Hotel or Hospitality Management, an MBA in Hospitality Management, a specialised Culinary Arts Programmes or

Event Management and/or Tourism Management programmes. Some well-known institutes are Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) in Switzerland, Glion Institute of Higher Education (in Switzerland and London), Les Roches Global Hospitality Education (Switzerland, Spain, and China) and Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration (the U.S.). Look for programmes that have strong industry connections, internship opportunities, and alumni success stories so that you gain practical experience and build a professional network. Be aware of the language requirements in the country you plan to study in and evaluate finances (tuition fees, living expenses, and potential return on investment) wisely.

I am in the final year of my degree in History. I want to try for UPSC. Should I do an M.A. or opt for professional streams such as LLB or enrol in a coaching programme? Hari

Dear Hari,

What do you like or you see yourself doing in life? Choosing the right course depends on your career goals, interests, and core strengths. Each option has its advantages.

Doing a M.A. in History may be beneficial for your UPSC preparation. It will also enhance your analytical and research skills. An LLB will be advantageous if you are interested in administrative or legal services and opens up diverse career paths, including legal practice, judiciary, and administrative services.

To prepare for the UPSC, a coaching programme will help in focused preparation and help you with specific strategies for each stage, time management and expert professional guidance. You could also combine options, and pursue an M.A. or LLB and enroll in a coaching programme. Consider your personal interests and strengths to choose a path that aligns with your passion.

I have completed my Masters in Paediatric Dentistry but, since Indian degrees aren’t recognised abroad, should I consider a doctorate? Abdul

Dear Abdul,

Many foreign universities conduct their own qualifying examinations and assessments to certify our Indian (and foreign) degrees. Research the licensing/ board certification requirement of the country that you are interested in moving to and prepare for that exam to validate your degree. Some countries ožer speciality fellowship programmes in paediatric dentistry.

Many countries ožer advanced education programmes and residencies that may be for a few years. Check the universities or dental schools in the countries of your choice for their criteria and pre-requisites. You can also enroll in continuing education courses in paediatric dentistry at reputable institutions abroad to be updated with the latest advances and enhance your professional recognition.

A doctorate is a great option if you’re interested in academia or research. Evaluate your career goals, interests, and requirements in your desired location before you make a decision.

Disclaimer: This column is merely a guiding voice and provides advice and suggestions on education and careers. he de—nition of the word ‘classroom’ has evolved signi—cantly over the last few years. Today’s classroom could be in a posh private school, an underfunded government college, an overcrowded coaching class, or even in the comfort of home. Wherever it is, a classroom must steer clear of divisive issues and forge a new path toward nation-building. However, ‘steer clear” should not mean the suppression of discussion. Instead, it should be about exploring the broader concepts so that the students may be resourceful enough to decide for themselves.

Hate speech is clearly one such area where a classroom needs to be proactive enough to dispel misconceptions, especially those going easily viral in the ongoing digital age. With total access to social media, many popular, but largely incorrect, themes enter mainstream thinking. Classrooms need to be bold enough to take on these misconceptions and dismantle them, using not emotion alone but indeed hard data. As a teacher, one of the areas in which I lay maximum emphasis is the source of information. Whatever a student’s views on a topic, they must be backed by reliable

Tdata from some reputable or o¦cial source. Unfortunately, youngsters and adults often fall for crowdpleasing mentions on social media.

While a lot of misinformation exists across social media outlets, none is as deadly as those that promote hate speech. Such hate speech can be categorised as derogatory and often downright inaccurate remarks about any religious, linguistic, tribal, caste, or even gender group. Sometimes, it could be a combination of these or intersecting points. A lot of potential hate can be countered by providing effective examples of people who ‘look like us’ and have done well abroad. These could be examples of people like Ajay Banga, Sundar Pichai, or Satya Nadella, who have all risen to the top due to diversity in cultures being embraced. This, in a way, forces us to look around us and embrace diversity of opinion, ethnicity, religion, class around us as well.

Tackle ignorance

An unfortunate method that a lot of the educated class often takes to solve some of the issues around us is simply not talking about it, as if ignorance will lead to any inherent hate disappearing altogether. On the contrary, ignorance leads to a lack of empathy and a failure to recognise one’s privilege.

The writer is a visiting faculty at Career Launcher.