Elementary education

Christa McAuliff said, "I touch eternity, I teach". How true, because in no other profession can a person have such a profound impact on the lives of so many people! Albert Einstein acknowledged, "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."

Primary or elementary education is the first years of formal, structured education that occurs during childhood. In most countries, it is compulsory for children to receive primary education (though in many jurisdictions it is permissible for parents to provide it).

Primary education generally begins when children are four to seven years old. The division between primary and secondary education is somewhat arbitrary, but it generally occurs at the age of 12 (adolescence).

Being an elementary education teacher is a career in which you can find the satisfaction of helping children learn; you can contribute to the future of the world by educating tomorrow's leaders and you can become a leader in your field.

As an elementary teacher, you will be called upon to:

Profile of top campuses in India

Jesus and Mary College
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 003
Website: www.jmcdelhi.com

About the Institute: The Jesus and Mary College is a community of learners in which all its members, i.e. students and staff (academic, administrative and maintenance) participate. It interacts for mutual benefit with its social milieu, i.e. parents, university and government agencies and other private, social, cultural and educational bodies. From a student strength of 117 in 1968, there are 2400 regular students, 1200 non-collegiate students and 2000 IGNOU students on roll today.

JMC is a centre for the Non Collegiate Women's Education Board and also the Indira Gandhi National Open University. JMC also conducts out-reach programmes for less privileged children of the neighbourhood under the NSS and the Jesus and Mary Children's Education Programme. JMC students have made their mark in various fields; be it academics, sports or other extra-curricular activities. Ex JMC-ites have excelled in journalism, law, the bureaucracy and the corporate world, apart from having made a foray in various other fields.

Courses: Apart from B.El.Ed, the College offers BA (Hons) Economics, BA (Hons) English, BA (Hons) Hindi, BA (Hons) history, BA (Hons) mathematics, BA (Hons) political science, BA(Hons) psychology , BA (Hons) sociology, BCom. (Hons), and BCom. (Pass).

Eligibility for B.El.Ed You should have passed your 10+2. This course is open for women candidates only.

Entrance exam: An entrance exam is held in June followed by an interview.

Pattern of entrance test: There are objective questions on: reasoning, aptitude and subject knowledge (up to class 10). And the subjective question is on written expression and language comprehension.

Jamia Milia Islamia
Teachers Training Institute, New Delhi-110025.
Address : www.jmi.nic.in

About the Institute: Jamia Millia Islamia is a Central University created through the Act of Indian Parliament in 1988. The University is open to all persons irrespective of caste, colour and creed.

The Teachers' Training Institute was established in 1938 under the inspiring leadership of Dr Zakir Husain for the purpose of training teachers for Basic Schools according to the scheme of Basic Education. Later, it was renamed as Teachers' College. The College initiated Teacher Education Programme for Art and Craft Teachers and in Art Education. It also organised postgraduate course in education and art as well as research in Education.

Courses: B.Ed (nursery), MA(elementary education), diploma in elementary teacher education.

Eligibility for B.Ed (Nursery Education): You should have cleared your 10 + 2 or its equivalent examination with a minimum of 50 per cent aggregate marks.

Entrance exam: The admission to this course is through a separate entrance examination conducted by Jamia Millia Islamia.

Pattern of entrance test : There are questions on general knowledge and on one subject that you offered at the Plus Two.

Seats : approximately 50

SNDT Women's University,
Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Road, New Marine Lines, Mumbai 400 020
www.sndt.ac.in

About the University: The first women's university in the country, SNDT today enrolls about 45,000 students. It has four campuses, which house 11 undergraduate colleges and 38 postgraduate departments. These campuses are located at Churchgate and Juhu (Mumbai) and Pune and Palghar.
The university has 26 affiliated colleges over the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The university continues to manage three secondary schools for girls which it has inherited from the past. The university is actively involved in all the three dimensions of higher education — teaching, research and extension.

Course: P.G. Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education
Eligibility: You should be a graduate with minimum 50 per cent marks in any subject.

Entrance exam : Entrance test and interview.

Pattern of exam : The entrance test is objective type and consist of questions in mathematics, reasoning and English.

Seats : 35-40

Fees : Annual fees are Rs16,000 to Rs20,000

The future prospects: Teaching elementary students come with the unique reward of cultivating young eager minds in their most formative years. As an elementary teacher, you have the opportunity to instill in children a love of and enthusiasm for learning that they'll take with them through their lives. They can find employment in play schools, nursery schools and primary/elementary schools.

Today, career prospects for teachers are much brighter. There has been a phenomenal increase in the number of schools and enhancement of the capacities of the existing ones. The competition to stay ahead compels private schools to provide good salaries and facilities. Elementary education graduates not only teach in classrooms but are also employed as school librarians, curriculum specialists and guidance counsellors.

Potential employers include adoption agencies, tutorial learning organisations, community recreation centres, camps, publishers, school service supply companies and child abuse centres.

In the present scenario, teachers are called upon to be leaders in implementing quality curriculum, assessing student learning and transforming schools.

List of other recommended institutes

State Council of Education Research and Training, Defence Colony, New Delhi — 110024,
Course: Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (two years)

Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110 063
Course : Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education

Gargi College, Siri Fort Road, New Delhi -110 049
Course : Bachelor in Elementary. Education

University of Mumbai, Fort, Mumbai 400 020, India
Course : Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education

MS University Baroda, C.C. Road, Baroda- 390002
Course : Diploma in Pre school education

Madurai Kamaraj University, Palkalai Nagar, Madurai 625 021 Tamil Nadu
Course : Diploma in pre-school education

Punjab University, Sector 14, Chandigarh 160 014, Punjab
Course : Diploma in pre-school education (for graduates)

Osmania University, Hyderabad
Course : Diploma in early childhood education

K.J. Somaiya Comprehensive College of Education, Training and Research, Vidyanagar, Vidyavihar, Ghatkopar(E), Mumbai — 400 077
Course :Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (DECE)

Courses abroad

The Boston University School of Education, Sherborn Street, Boston, MA 02215,USA
B.Sc and Master of Education in Elementary Education

College of Education and Human Services, Ferris State University, Bishop Hall Room 421 1349 Cramer Circle, Grand Rapids, Michigan MI (USA) 49307-2737
Bachelor of Elementary Education

University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development, 110 Wulling Hall, 86 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
Master of El Education

University of Phoenix, 3157 E. Elwood St.Phoenix, Arizona 85034, USA
MA in Education Elementary Teacher Education (online programme)

Jones International University, 9697 E Mineral, Centennial, Colorado, 80112, USA
M.Ed in Elementary Curriculum, assessment and instruction

St. Martins University, 5300 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey, Washington 98503, USA
Bachelor of El. Education

University of South Alabama - Mobile, Alabama 36688-0002 / (251) 460-6101
Bachelor of Elementary Education

University of Kentucky, USA
BA Early elementary education

RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Elementary and Early Childhood Education

Charles Stuart University, Waga Waga, NSW, Australia
Primary Education

Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
Elementary Education

University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Primary Education

University of Canterbury, Christ Church, New Zealand
Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education

— The writer is the Director of the Institute for Career Studies based in Lucknow, India