Perception of Higher Education Level Students Towards Teaching Profession

Teaching is a noble profession because it makes a huge impact on the development of society or a country. It is a profession that can make a stronger nation. This study aims to find out the perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession. A descriptive type survey method of research and a qualitative approach was used. 270 postgraduate students as samples through a convenience sampling technique were taken and data were collected through a self-developed standardized questionnaire contained with close-ended questions. The qualitative analysis method was used for data analysis, and percentage calculation was done. It was found thatmost of the respondents have low levels (31%) and very low levels (22%) of perception toward the teaching profession and the rest of them have average/moderate perception levels (22%), very high perception levels (28%), 14 % have high perception levels toward the teaching profession. Researchers concluded that the perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession displayed a lack of positive or favourable perception towards the teaching profession.


STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:
The problem has been stated as: "Perception of Higher Education Level Students Towards Teaching Profession."

RATIONALE OF THE STUDY:
 Teaching is a job as well as a means of developing students' potential and instilling important life skills such as respect, ethical principles, and cultural awareness.Education provided by teachers improves people's quality of life, benefiting both individuals and society. Teaching is regarded as one of the most noble professions.Teaching is the mother of all professions, including law, engineering, and medicine.It is also a prestigious profession in society. Students' perceptions of the teaching profession are considered a significant variable in many studies.Students see teachers as role models.From the above-mentioned ground, the present research was justified.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:
Objectives of the study were-1.To study the level of perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession.2. To study the level of perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession in terms of Gender.3. To study the level of perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession in terms of Locality.4. To study the level of perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession in terms of Stream of education.5. To study the perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession in terms of Selected dimensions.

DELIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY:
The present study was delimited from the following aspects - Level of Education: The study research was delimited to only postgraduate level students.
 Sample Size: The study was restricted to only around 400 postgraduate-level students.
 Area: The study was delimited only to 7 selected universities.

 Tools and Technique:
The study uses only one self-develop questionnaire as a tool (Scale for measuring perception towards the teaching profession) as a tool for data collection. Approach of the study: The study delimited only the qualitative approach and Simple Percentage calculation done by the researcher. Variables: The study was delimited to only two main variables and some categorical variables.

METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY:
 Method and Approach of the Study: The researcher has applied a descriptive type survey method of research and a qualitative approach. Population of the Study: All the higher education levelstudents of West Bengal comprisedthepopulation ofthis study.
 Sample and Sampling procedures: Researcher took 270 higher education level students as samples through a Convenience Sampling technique. Instrument for data collection: A self-developed standardized questionnaire was used for data collection in this present study. Procedure of data collection: This study collected data through both online and as well as online modes.Firstly, some data is collected offline mode by using the self-made questionnaire. Statistical techniques used: Percentage Analysis was used to be done from the collected through close-ended questions analyzed using qualitative analysis.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN THE STUDY:
 Perception: The thoughts or mental images that students have about the teaching profession and activities.In this study, perception considered the perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession. Teaching profession:A profession that contributes to the teaching-learning process.It is a respectable job in society.It is also regarded as the mother of all vocations.A teacher is a person who chooses to work in this field.A professional teacher is someone who accepts teaching on a professional basis. Higher Education: Higher education is tertiary-level of education.Students entered in higher education after passing school education.It consists of undergraduate and post-graduate programs.In this study, postgraduate students are considered as higher education students. Selected dimension: In this study dimensions refer to used parameters mentioned for tool development for this study.These are professional satisfaction, economic satisfaction, and conceptual aspects.

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION:
The analysis and interpretation of the data have been done objective-wise.

Analysis of obj-1:
To study the level of perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession.  1 shows the levels of perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession.Out of the28% of respondents who have very high perception levels, 14 % havehigh perception levels, 22% have average/moderate perception levels, 31 % have low perception, and 22% have very low perception.

Analysis of obj-2:
To study the level of perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession in terms of Gender.Interpretation: Table 2 shows the levels of perception of male and female higher education level students towards the teaching profession.Out of the total male respondents 11% of respondents who have very high perception levels, 14 % have high perception levels, 26 % have average/moderate perception levels, 29 % have low perception, and 20 % have very low perception.Also, out of the total female respondents, 21% of respondents have very high perception levels, 30 % have high perception levels, 27 % have average/moderate perception levels, 14 % have low perception, and 8 % have very low perception.

Analysis of obj-3:
To study the level of perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession in terms of Locality.Interpretation: Table 3 shows the levels of perception of rural and urban higher education level students towards the teaching profession.Out of the total rural respondents 16% of respondents who have very high perception levels, 22 % have high perception levels, 17 % have average/moderate perception levels, 25 % have low perception, and 20 % have very low perception.Also, out of the total urban respondents, 14% of respondents have very high perception levels, 19 % have high perception levels, 16 % have average/moderate perception levels, 29 % have low perception, and 22 % have very low perception.

Analysis of obj-4:
To study the level of perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession in terms of Stream of education.

Perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession in terms of Stream of education
Interpretation: Table 4 shows the levels of perception of rural and urban higher education level students towards the teaching profession.Out of the total Arts & Humanities respondents 16% of respondents who have very high perception levels, 27 % have high perception levels, 18 % have average/moderate perception levels, 23 % have low perception, and 16 % have very low perception.Also, out of the total science respondents, 10 % of respondents have very high perception levels, 14 % have high perception levels, 20 % have average/moderate perception levels, 31 % have low perception, and 25 % have very low perception.

Analysis of obj-5:
To study the perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession in terms of selected dimensions.

FINDINGS:
Findings of the study are presented below according to objectives -1.It has been found that most of the respondents have low levels (31%) and very low levels (22%) of perception toward the teaching profession and the rest of them have average/moderate perception levels (22%), very high perception levels (28%), 14 % have high perception levels toward the teaching profession.2. It has been found that female respondents have more very high (21%) and high (30%) perception levels than male respondents very high (11%) and high (26%) towards the teaching profession.3. It has been found that rural respondents have more very high (16 %) and high (22 %) perception levels than urban respondents very high (14 %) and high (19 %) towards the teaching profession.4. It has been found that Arts and humanities respondents have more very high (16 %) and high (27 %) perception levels than urban respondents very high (14 %) and high (20 %) towards the teaching profession. 5.It has been found that most of the respondents responded positively on all selected dimensions.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:
A very significant area explored in the present study was the perceptionof higher education level students towards the teaching profession, where it was found that most higher education level students displayed a lack of positive or favorable perception towards the teaching profession.Students were subdivided based on gender and showed differences in their level of perception.Males had less perception than females.This connotes that the perception of male students is more negative thanthat of female students.Also, Students were subdivided based on locality and showed differences in their level of perception.urban had less perception than rural, and students' categories based on the stream of education showed differences in their level of perception, science students had less perception than arts and humanities.
A healthy student viewpoint regarding the teaching profession is required for an effective educational system.Students' viewpoint level will fall if they lose trust in the teaching profession and its contribution to the forming of mankind and generating development in a society; if the honour of the 'noblest of all' profession is not acknowledged and valued by the students.The current situation of students holding less favorable or positive impressions of the teaching profession is extremely problematic because it destroys the perception of the teaching profession.

IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY:
According to the researcher, the importance of this investigation is mentioned below- Additional research on perception towards the teaching profession anticipated by this research. Through this research, the perception of higher education students towards the teaching profession will be known. This study with encourage prospective researchers to carry out research on undergraduate and trainee teachers. The result of this research enriched the field of policy and planning. The result of the study will add knowledge to the existing field of study. The result of the study acts as a review of the literature for future research. The result of the study will be helpful for the welfare of society.

Table 01 :
Perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession.
Interpretation: Table

Table 02 :
Perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession in terms of Gender.
Figure 02: Perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession in terms of Gender.

Table 03 :
Perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession in terms of Locality.

Table 04 :
Perception of higher education level students towards the teaching profession in terms of Stream of education.
There is no financial comfort in the teaching profession so the importance of this profession is decreasing.7.03 8.88 22.59 29.25 32.22 16.Teaching is a suitable profession as there is scope for salary increments in a regular manner.9.62 16.66 25.18 31.85 16.66