What is National Professional Standards for Teachers
National Professional Standards for Teacher (NSPT) define attributes, knowledge, skills and ethics of teaching profession. Professional standards are not to be confused with teaching competencies and duties assigned to teachers. These standards are not tool for disciplinary actions but directions and guidelines to be followed by teachers throughout their career. NEP 2020 has given recommendation regarding preparation of National Standards for Teachers (NPST) by 2022. National Professional Standard for Teachers would cover expectations from the teacher at different levels of expertise/stage, and competencies required for that stage. It will also comprise standards for performance appraisal, for each stage, that would be carried out on a periodic basis.
Why National Professional Standards for Teacher
- Teaching Aspirants will be well aware with the role and responsibilities of the teaching profession.
- Determining professional standards for teachers would help in framing the curriculum for pre-school teacher education programmes and in reviewing curriculum of overall teacher education.
- It will help state governments in determining all aspects of teacher’s career management, including tenure, professional development efforts, salary increase, promotions and other recognitions.
- NPST helps in improving quality of education and teachers at every stage.
- NPST also leads a uniformity in education in nation.
Domains of National Professional Standards for Teacher
Knowledge Attributes
Knowledge of Content
mastery over course content is first expected attribute of the teacher. Upgradation in the Knowledge of Content is equally important in teaching profession.
Knowledge of Child Psychology
Growth and development of child, individual differences, learning theories and various other topics of child psychology make and individual effective teacher, therefore, and child psychology plays an important role to transform an individual into a good teacher.
Knowledge of National Diversity and Requirements
In county like India addressing national, cultural, lingual and diversities through education is the sole responsibility of teacher. Therefore teacher should have deep knowledge of national diversity. It is the responsibility of teacher to introduce the national expectations and requirements to the upcoming generations.
Knowledge of Health and Hygiene
National policy and guidelines regarding wellbeing of children and young people needs to be introduced at early stage by the teachers.
Knowledge of teaching Service rules and service conditions
Teacher should know teaching Service rules and service conditions and must update his/her knowledge regarding the same as service rules and conditions are subjected to modification with time.
Knowledge of national Legislation, Administration and Organisational Structure
Inculcating knowledge of national Legislation, Administration and Organisational Structure to learner is one of the expectation from teachers. Compliance and understanding of national policies and regulations is also expected to teacher.
Understanding Attributes
Understanding the structure of Education in India
The journey and study of growth of education in India should be learnt by teacher. Teacher must know the national and state level structure of education, as education is in concurrent list in the constitution.
Understanding of social structure and multilingualism in India
India is the country of complex social structure and multilingualism. Teacher has to deal with this every day. Therefore, understanding of the sensitivity and complexity of social structure and multilingualism is necessary for a teacher to handle a diverse classroom.
Understanding the Inclusive education Approach in schools
Inclusive education refers to teaching students in age appropriate classrooms without any discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, caste, color and creed. In India, some group of people are called deprived due to disability, gender, social and financial status and may also be deprived in education. Teacher needs to be more conscious while dealing with students from such deprived sections. Teacher is expected to deal such section with patience by respecting the inclusive education approach.
Understanding the roles and responsibility of teachers in Indian society
Teacher must have clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of teaching profession. Curriculum formation, curriculum adaptation, teaching, assessment and evaluation, dealing with community, bringing social support in education, administrative record maintenance etc are the fundamental roles of a teacher.
Understanding of responsibility towards environment
Teacher must be aware of responsibility of mankind towards environment and must act and behave in environmental friendly manner so that such behavior can be inculcated in learner.
Skill Attributes
Pedagogical Skills
an appropriate and well organized teaching pedagogy must be the tool in hand of teachers. Teaching pedagogy must tackle individual differences in the classroom. The pedagogy which is being used must be flexible and have scope for improvement with time and demand. Teacher must update her knowledge and skills regarding pedagogy with time. They is expected to review the effectiveness of pedagogy used in the form of learner’s progress and wellbeing. Teacher must consider the feedback regarding pedagogy used provided by learner and other stakeholders.
Evaluation and Assessment
Mastery over evaluation and assessment skill is expected from a teacher. Teacher should upgrade his/her knowledge in the field of evaluation. 360o evaluation of learner should be the focus of teacher.
Leadership
Teachers are the leaders in a way they act and set examples for students. They exemplify the role of a leader while being administrative head of school. Teacher who engage in leadership roles are generally experienced and respected in their field which can both empower them and increase collaboration among peers.
Team work and collaboration
Working in a team is well expected from a teacher. The behavior of teacher towards colleagues, community, administration and other should be very cordial. Teacher is expected to be a good listener and speaker.
Communication Skills
Communication skill is the soul of teaching profession. Teacher should attain expertise in all aspects of communication such as vocal & gestural, written & verbal, visuals & listening to cater the need of all type of students in same class.
Professional Ethics
Teacher must demonstrate integrity, impartiality, ethical behavior in the classroom and in their conduct with parents and other stakeholders. Commitment to the job, honesty, learning attitude, active participation in academic occasion, respect for national system of education, motivation towards curricular improvement are expected professional ethics of a teacher.
Guidance & Counselling
Teacher is to provide learner and other stake holders support, guidance and counselling (if required), for the improvement and expected learning outcome. Teacher should also provide timely and constructive feedback.
Creativity and versatility to make teaching learning process more interesting
Research has proved that practice can inculcate creativity. Therefore, teachers are to think and work creatively for teaching for making the process interesting.
Information communication Technology (ICT)
in the changing scenario, ICT is now one of the medium of communication or method of teaching. To be a teacher in 21st century ICT based competencies are one of essential skill. Knowledge of current ICT and working with the available technology is the basic for a teacher. Teacher is to to upgrade the knowledge regarding ICT time to time.
Upgradation in Knowledge and skills
Teacher should have continuous learning attitude. She should constantly update his/her content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge and technological knowledge pertaining to teaching.
Personality and Behavioural Attributes
Basic Behavioural traits
Teacher are to be punctual, polite, confident, sincere, tolerant, active, creative, friendly, sensitive, empathetic, responsive, clear, relevant, caring , trustworthy and humorous.
Appearance
Teacher should follow thumb rule of formal attire during the service time. They need to create a role model for learners. Teachers should avoid wearing unnecessary accessories, jewellry and makeup.
Mental Fitness
Teachers should practice Yoga and meditation to have sound mental health. They must have awareness of stress coping strategies as they are not to show anger, frustration and other unexpected emotions with students and other stakeholders.
Physical Health
Teachers are to be role model in all aspects of life for a leaner. They must be aware of their physical health, so that students get motivation to lead a healthy lifestyle.
National, regional and local Expectations
Teacher must know the local area expectations. They must respect the versatility of culture in India and also act in a manner that respect the sentiments of locals. Teacher should try to explain the course content by giving local/regional/national examples.
Conclusion
Present article touched almost all the aspects of National Professional Standards for Teachers. Government can modify or prepare National Professional Standards for Teachers as per their specific requirement. If we talk India, Before 2021 National Professional Standards for Teachers were never existing. Very first, NEP 2020 directed policy makers to work on the concept. Moreover, in 2021 National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) presented the pre-draft of National Professional Standards for Teachers. Very soon, I will post the summary of Pre-draft of National Professional Standards for Teachers.
Rajni is an accomplished education professional who holds a PhD in Education and MPhil and MA degrees in Economics. She has extensive experience in research, having published over 16 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to articles in an edited book. Additionally, Rajni has authored a book in the field of education.
Rajni is passionate about making a difference in the field of education. She is an aspirant who is eager to do something innovative and valuable and is constantly striving towards creating a positive impact. She believes that education is a powerful tool which can change lives and that every student deserves access to quality education.
Rajni has a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to her profession. She is driven by her passion to learn, explore and contribute to the growth of the education sector. Her knowledge and experience in Economics and Education, combined with her intellectual curiosity and research skills, place her in a unique position to push the boundaries and creatively tackle complex challenges in the education field.
Overall, Rajni is an accomplished and driven professional who is poised to continue making a meaningful contribution in the field of education.