Image, Role, and Responsibilities of the Early Childhood Teacher in India

Abstract

Based upon conversations with the participants, the questionnaires completed by them, and my classroom observations of three of the teachers, it was clear that there was a fairly strong correspondence between the traditional concept of the teacher in India and the current image and role of the early childhood teacher. This correspondence influenced the teacher’s relationship with her students as well as the criteria that were used by school principals for hiring teachers. A description of my first visit to Malvika’s first grade classroom will enable the reader to better contextualize the subsequent discussion on the image and role of early childhood teachers as commonly seen in private urban schools in India.