How to Become a Government School Teacher in India

Being a government school teacher is among the most desired careers among Indian students because of the following reasons:

A government career provides you with financial stability, job security, and retirement benefits. At the same time, you enjoy holidays, fame, and even community esteem. Besides, as a government teacher, you get an opportunity to play a critical role in molding the nation’s future.

Therefore, if you need to know how to become a government school teacher in India, read on.

Reasons Why Most Indians Want Government Teaching Jobs

These are the reasons why most Indians yearn to join government teaching jobs:

• Stable and secure job
• Competitive salary and allowances
• Retirement benefits and pensions
• Fixed working hours
• Social recognition
• An opportunity to teach different classes

In India, government teachers work in primary, upper primary, high, and higher secondary schools.

Types of Government Teachers in India

Prior to learning how to become a government school teacher in India, you must understand the different categories of teachers that exist. These are:

Teacher Category	Classes	Qualification
PRT	Class 1 – 5	12th + D.El.Ed/B.El.Ed + TET
TGT	Class 6 – 10	Graduation + B.ED + TET
PGT	Class 11 – 12	Post-Graduation + B.Ed

It is worthy of note that eligibility varies depending on the classes one intends to teach (Testbook).

Step 1: Passing School Exams

The first step towards becoming a government school teacher is to pass school exams. In this regard, a candidate must pass class 10th and 12th board exams from a recognized board while securing good grades. Upon passing class 12th, one must proceed to pursue the selected stream of study.

Step 2: Teacher Education Courses

Teacher education courses equip aspiring teachers with the appropriate professional skills to teach their desired classes. The following are teacher education courses:

• To become a PRT teacher (Class 1 – 5), you can join either the D.El.Ed (2 Years) or B.El.Ed (4 Years) courses.

• To teach classes 6 – 10 (TGT), you need to join the B.Ed program in your desired field (Maths, English, Science, Telugu, Hindi, or Social Studies) after obtaining a graduation degree.

• To teach classes 11 – 12 (PGT), you must undertake a post-graduation program in the selected field plus a B.Ed degree.

Eligibility to teach professional courses is determined by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) (National Council for Teacher Education).

Step 3: CTET or State TET Exam

After completing teacher education courses, it is time to undertake the teacher eligibility exam. Most government school teachers must have a teaching certificate as proof of competency. Two main TET exams exist, including:

CTET exam

This exam is mandatory for teaching jobs in the following institutions:

• Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS)

• Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS)

• Central Government Schools

State TET exam

Almost all states conduct TET exams for recruitment purposes. Some of the TET exams include AP TET, TS TET, REET, HTET, TNTET, UPTET, and many others.

Therefore, it is mandatory to pass TET examinations to secure government teaching jobs (CTET).

Step 4: Teacher Recruitment Exams

Teacher recruitment exams are the next step to consider after passing the TET examination. It is important to start preparing for these exams early and focus on the key areas of the exam syllabus. Some of the most competitive recruitment exams include:

• State Teacher Recruitment Board Exams

• District Selection Committee (DSC) Exams

• KVS Recruitment Exams

• NVS Recruitment Exams

• DSSSB Exams

• State Public Service Commission Exams

Most recruitment exams are computer-based and consist of multiple-choice questions on the following topics:

• General knowledge

• Teaching aptitude

• Subject knowledge

• Reasoning ability

• Current affairs

Step 5: Apply for Government Teacher Vacancies

Almost all government vacancies are advertised in the front pages of newspapers. Some of the websites that publish government vacancies include

• State government websites

• KVS Vacancy website

• Employment News website

• NVS Vacancy website

Therefore, it is important to apply for government teacher vacancies as soon as they are available.

Step 6: Document Verification

Most government school teachers require document verification after passing the recruitment examination. Some of the documents needed for verification include:

10th Mark sheet and certificate
12th Mark sheet and certificate
Graduation mark sheet and certificate
B.Ed/D.El.Ed certificate
TET certificate
Caste certificate (if any)
Identity proof

Step 7: Getting Appointed as a Government Teacher

After document verification, shortlisted candidates are notified of their appointment. Most schools require newly appointed teachers to attend training before joining the institution.

Skills To Help You Become a Government Teacher

Some of the key skills needed to become a government employee include:

• Good communication skills

• Patience and enthusiasm

• Good command of the subject

• Confidence

• Leadership skills

• Desire to teach

Salary For Government School Teachers in India

A government school teacher’s salary largely depends on the state and teaching position. However, here are the average salaries for government school teachers:

Teaching Position	Approximate Salary
PRT	INR 30,000 – 50,000
TGT	INR 40,000 – 65,000
PGT	INR 50,000 – 80,000

Besides salary, government school teachers are paid Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), medical benefits, and pensions upon retirement.

Subjects With Highest Pay Scale in Government Teaching Jobs

Indian students can consider specializing in the following subjects because of their competitive pay scale:

• Mathematics

• Science

• English

• Telugu

• Hindi

• Social Studies

• Physics

• Chemistry

• Biology

• Commerce

• Computer Science

Tips for Becoming a Government Teacher

Here are some of the most important tips for those who want to become government teachers:

Set your teaching career goals early in life
Fulfill all the eligibility requirements for government teaching positions
Prepare seriously for the TET exam
Read newspapers to improve your general knowledge
Practice past papers
Improve upon teaching skills
Apply for government teacher vacancies

FAQs

Can I become a government teacher after 12th?

Yes, you can become a government teacher after 12th. You can join D.El.Ed or B.El.Ed and then pass TET exams to secure a government teaching position.

Is B.Ed necessary to become a government teacher?

B.Ed is mandatory to become a government school teacher. PRTs also need B.Ed or D.El.Ed qualification (Testbook).

What is the difference between CTET and State TET exam?

CTET is a national-level exam whereas State TET is a state-conducted exam (CDN BBSR).

Can I become a government teacher without a TET certificate?

Most government teaching positions require TET eligibility (E-Parliament).