Bengaluru: With uncertainty in the job market persisting, schools across Karnataka are witnessing a growing number of engineering and other graduates taking up teaching jobs.While engineers entering the teaching profession is not new, the reasons for the shift have changed, say school authorities. Earlier, the move was largely driven by passion or a desire for better work-life balance. Now, the lack of employment opportunities in their respective fields is pushing many graduates towards teaching.“There was a time when engineers took up teaching because they wanted to contribute to society. Passion or the need for a better work-life balance drove them. But now, with several engineering graduates unable to find jobs after graduation, they are turning to teaching. It has become a matter of survival,” said Vikram Narvekar, principal of Sri BM Patil Public School (CISCE), Vijayapura.He said graduates from other districts often find the cost of living in cities such as Bengaluru too high, while salaries are insufficient to meet their expenses. Some depend on financial support from their families. Many eventually return to their hometowns and join schools.“They speak good English, have a sound understanding of core subjects and are readily employed. They earn an income and have a stable job here,” he said.While a BEd qualification and eligibility tests are mandatory for teaching posts in govt schools, several private schools recruit graduates without these qualifications as additional or guest teachers, or to handle subjects such as robotics.Maya Menon, founder director of Teacher Foundation, said engineers and other professionals are increasingly joining coaching institutes and schools as these offer relatively steady incomes and the satisfaction of engaging with young people. The growing uncertainty in the job market has contributed to the trend, she said.D Shashi Kumar, secretary of the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools of Karnataka, said schools are receiving applications not just from engineers but also from graduates in BBA, MBA and BCA. Many are seeking administrative jobs as well.“Unemployment is high and many are being laid off. They see teaching as a respectable profession, with seven to eight hours of work a day,” he said.According to Kumar, schools find it relatively easy to train young graduates and develop their interest in teaching. Many candidates seek salaries of Rs 25,000 and above, which several private schools are willing to offer. Technology has also made certain tasks, including preparing lesson plans, easier through artificial intelligence tools and apps, he said.MN Natesh Kumar, principal of Gurukula International School, Bengaluru, said applications from fresh graduates for teaching posts have doubled or tripled in recent years due to a shortage of jobs in other sectors. Even those who have quit or lost their jobs are approaching schools as they are unable to find alternative employment.Schools are assigning them subjects such as computer science, robotics and artificial intelligence, he said.Marjeena M Chittargi, a civil engineer who worked as a teacher in a school in Bagalkot, said teaching has become a popular option among engineering graduates, particularly in smaller towns where employment opportunities are limited.“There are so many engineering colleges, but campus placements are not enough. There are hardly any jobs in neighbouring districts, and moving to Bengaluru is not always an option, especially for women. Even when they move, salaries are often too low to sustain themselves,” she said.Chittargi said some of her friends earn just Rs 10,000-Rs 12,000 and have to switch jobs repeatedly to secure better salaries. Teaching, she felt, offered better prospects.She quit her teaching job in March to prepare for the civil services. Her school had four engineers from different disciplines — electrical, civil, electronics and communication, and computer science — working as teachers. While she taught social sciences, the others handled mathematics.“Engineers are good at teaching because we have worked on projects and presentations and have a strong understanding of our subjects,” she said.BOXGraduates bring complementary skills to teachingRamya Venkataraman, founder and CEO of CENTA, which works on teacher certification, upskilling and career growth, said engineers and graduates in fields such as BSc, BCom and BBA are showing greater interest in teaching because of its relatively stable employment prospects.While recruitment in domestic schools is partly constrained by the regulatory requirement of a BEd qualification, opportunities are available in allied areas such as content creation and in schools abroad.“We are currently helping one of the states in the US with global recruitment, and almost 50% of applicants are from such backgrounds,” she said.Venkataraman said schools may not always have the infrastructure to provide the in-depth training these candidates require. Organisations such as CENTA can assess their potential through standardised tests and help bridge skill gaps through intensive training.Schools can benefit from recruiting such graduates if they understand their strengths and areas requiring development, and view them as professionals bringing complementary skills to the classroom, she said.
