Align with your goal

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 teach 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. To be a Primary Teacher

(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 Trained Graduate Teacher, 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 Post Graduate Teacher (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 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 look up websites of international hotel chains for 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. 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).

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,

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