Teaching is a popular choice of career for those who are seeking a safe and secure profession. A number of positive developments have impacted the sector. The government has been spending more and has increased the number of teaching jobs and the successive pay commission recommendations have improved remuneration of teachers. Job opportunities with better salaries have also appeared in the private sector.
BEd is the most sought after degree that makes one eligible to apply for a teacher’s post. This one-year degree can be obtained after graduation. Besides regular degrees, many colleges and universities award BEd degree in the distance learning mode as well. Universities like Annamalai, and MD Rohtak started correspondence BEd much before a regulatory system was formally put in place for such programmes.
B.Ed through distance mode is still a good option for in-service teachers who want to get the degree at 3-4 times less cost than a regular programme. But before selecting such programmes ensure that it fulfils all the criteria laid down by the NCTE. So select your option wisely.
Most B.Ed Distance Learning Programs programmes cost between Rs 25000-Rs 50000 for the full programme but the Course fees can vary from university to university and also change depending on whether the programme is one year or two year long.
There is no fixed difference in salary between salaries of graduates who have done a full time B.ED and those who have taken it in distance learning. While salaries in the private sector can start at Rs 10000- Rs 15000, the Government Schools sector can go upto Rs 15000-Rs 20000 as a starting level salary for a school teacher in the good schools. These salaries grow with time and experience and can become quite lucrative over time.
If you are already a teacher or working somewhere, taking a B.Ed Distance program is certainly worth it. You gain the worthy qualification of becoming a teacher while you are at it and can secure yourself a better job by the end of it. There might be some differentiation between full-time and distance programmes but not to the extent of discrimination in recruitment or the distance programme being less comprehensive academically. It remains the best option if you are already working or studying another programme.