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Choosing education or teaching as your major usually takes a student down the path to becoming a teacher. Each teacher is someone who devotes their life to education. But their reasons for doing so are unique. Some do it for a better future because regardless of how the world changes, careers in teaching will remain relevant. Others do it because it allows them to make a difference in the lives of their students. Still others will choose this line because of the transferable skills that it allows them to develop.

Why should you study teaching and education? Your reasons would be personal to you, but we take a detailed look at some of the common ones:

Improving the Quality of Education

This one may seem like a no-brainer on the surface. But just stop and imagine what you could do as a teacher. Our country will always benefit from reforms in education. Teachers can make a huge difference to the classrooms in low-development areas. Dedicated teachers can also improve matters in public schools that constantly face budgetary concerns. Therefore, if you consider quality improvement as your motivation, it is a good one.

Sure, chances are you won't be making policies that impact schools at the legislative level. That is what school administrators and government officials do. But it isn't them who has a direct effect on the students in your classroom; it'd be you. Moreover, with experience under your belt – and a few degrees to boot – you could be occupying the position of a school administrator yourself. Either way, you will have a hand in shaping the minds of our future generations.

Imbuing Yourself with Important Skills

The skills you develop and hone as a teacher are completely transferable. You may choose a path that deviates from direct teaching and still make use of them. In fact, your talents won't just be valued in your own school. They will have global recognition. Some qualities that you already possess but get to sharpen while teaching include facilitation of communication. You will also walk out capable of collaborating with others. As a teacher, you will come across many students. Reaching out to them in a way that hits home could make you a resourceful problem solver. Becoming organized in all that you do is yet another valuable skill you stand to gain.

Working for Reasonable Hours

Most schools last only for six hours a day. As a teacher, you may be working only for as long – or a few hours longer. A glance at your corporate counterparts should be enough to show you how rare that is! The duration of their work-hours can lengthen from 8 hours to 12 hours each day. As a teacher, you will likely have more time to spend with your family or doing other things of interest. Long days, such as those during parent-teacher conferences and after-school activities, will come. But with your job, you will find it easier to maintain a healthy life-work balance.

Earn a Good Salary

Whether monetary benefits are your concern or not, you surely get to enjoy them. What you earn will depend on the teaching position and experience that you have. Here are some examples of what teachers earn:

·         Teaching Kindergarten/Elementary school students - $57,980

·         Middle/High school teachers - $58, 600-$60,320

·         Teaching Special Education - $59,780

·         Principals - $95,310

You can also find several ways to increase your salary, such as by mentoring new teachers, teaching summer school, and heading your own department.

Miscellaneous Other Reasons to Study Teaching and Education

1.      You like working with young people, especially helping them to learn to think critically.

2.      You'd like to contribute to your community – or society. Teaching will bring you close to the younger members of our society. With your help, they can realize their full potential.

3.      You want to guide students to careers that would suit them best. The road leading a teacher to becoming a career adviser isn't that long. Alternative careers include speech therapists and teaching assistants. You can also choose not to teach and instead become a community education officer or a museum education officer.

4.      Your interest lies in helping adults pursue higher studies. Then you could enter the field of adult education and training.

5.      You can be a part of an educational NGO and have a role in designing curricula and projects.

6.      You find yourself interested in writing. Become an author or a technical writer.

7.      You might think of joining creative industries, such as television or cartoon production, become a photographer or a filmmaker, etc.

8.      You want to study further. Then build on your bachelor's or master's degree by aiming even higher.

9.      You want to keep your options open. Use your analytical and communication skills to enter civil service, PR, marketing, advertising, or consultancy fields.

As you see now, a degree in education and teaching is just the beginning. Talk to us for guidance on even more options!