Sunayna Uberoi is an electronics alumna of Pune and San Diego (USA) universities with seven years (2001-07) work experience with the US-based Qualcomm Inc, a pioneer in mobile telecommunications, artificial intelligence and robotics software development. Currently, she is a trainee in the I am a Teacher programme of The Heritage School, Gurgaon, promoted by Harvard School of Education postgrads Manit and Priti Jain in 2003.

“I paid Rs.1.2 lakh for admission into this 10-month teaching and experiential learning programme in June. Today I am very glad I made this career move even though it may involve considerable financial sacrifice. The curriculum, delivered by an excellent faculty, is truly unique and enabling. Combined with my corporate experience, I am confident I can build a new and gratifying career path in K-12 education,” says Uberoi.

“I took to teaching because it’s the most emotionally rewarding profession. Being a teacher gives me ample opportunity to shape and mould young minds. It fulfills my passion to empower generation next in my own little way. The remuneration is satisfactory and in line with the norms prescribed by the Sixth Pay Commission. But I believe the satisfaction and personal fulfillment that I get at my school are more important,” says Priyadarshini (who uses only one name), an English and education postgraduate of Mumbai University who teaches English to class IX-XI students of the CBSE-affiliated Ryan International School, Kandivali, Mumbai (estb. 2006).

“The teacher’s profession has undergone a paradigm shift and is no longer an underpaid one. A fresher in this profession starts with a monthly salary of Rs.20,000-25,000. Moreover, teachers at The Heritage School enjoy free travel to school in air-conditioned buses, are entitled to free breakfast and lunch and an annual Durga Puja bonus. However, job satisfaction is what tilts the scale for the teaching profession,” says Nilanjana Nag, an English and education postgrad of Calcutta University who signed up as a fresher with the CISCE, IBO (Geneva) and CIE (UK)-affiliated The Heritage School, Kolkata (estb. 2001) as a trainee teacher in April.

“I always wanted a healthy work-life balance and the teaching profession fulfils this need. I started training at the Yuvabharathi Public School, Coimbatore in 2010 and enjoyed my work so much that I signed up for a teacher’s training course at Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. Recently I was promoted from a primary school co-ordinator to high school teacher. The remuneration and regular pay rises offered are satisfactory and I have time for family vacations. The greatest satisfaction has been the love and respect I have earned from my students and parents. The school’s curriculum and in-service teacher workshops have given me excellent career advancement opportunities,” says Annupreya R, an English literature and education alumna of Bharathiar University who teaches English to class IX-X students of the CBSE-affiliated Yuvabharati.