| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Education and Teaching |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Head Mistress |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | Fresher or up to 2 years of classroom teaching |
Assistant Teacher job description template
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Job title: Assistant Teacher
Department: Education and Teaching
Reports to: Head Mistress
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
An Assistant Teacher is a qualified classroom teacher at the first step of the teaching ladder, usually teaching several subjects in Classes 1 to 8. In government and aided schools it is the regular teacher post, while in private schools the title often means a junior teacher who handles a section under a senior teacher's guidance. The role teaches, assesses, keeps class records and joins school activities. A good assistant teacher follows the lesson plan, knows each child's level and keeps parents informed.
Key responsibilities
- Teach the assigned subjects to Classes 1 to 8 using the school's lesson plans, textbooks and activity sheets.
- Take attendance each morning and contact parents when a child is absent for more than two days.
- Check classwork and homework notebooks regularly and correct them with short, specific comments.
- Assess children through oral checks, worksheets and periodic tests, and record marks in the register or ERP.
- Spot children who are behind in reading, writing or arithmetic, and give them small-group practice.
- Support the class teacher with parent meetings, report cards and classroom displays.
- Carry out assembly, lunch, play and dispersal duties as per the duty roster.
- Help run co-curricular events such as sports day, science fairs and cultural programmes.
- Keep class records such as attendance registers, mark lists and child profiles ready for inspection.
- Attend in-service training and try the new methods in class.
Requirements
- D.El.Ed or B.Ed, depending on the classes taught
- CTET or state TET, commonly required for teaching Classes 1 to 8
- Graduate degree for upper primary posts
- Fresher or up to 2 years of classroom teaching
KRAs and KPIs for a Assistant Teacher
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Lesson delivery | Lesson plan followed with no more than one week of lag in any subject |
| Foundational skills | At least 80 percent of assigned children reading and calculating at grade level by year end |
| Notebook correction | Every notebook checked at least once a week |
| Absence follow-up | Parents contacted for every absence longer than two days |
| Assessment records | Marks entered within 5 days of each test |
| Duty compliance | All rostered assembly, lunch and dispersal duties carried out |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Textbooks and activity sheets, Blackboard and smart board, School ERP or registers, Flash cards and teaching aids, Google Classroom, Workbook and worksheet sets.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Primary Teacher, Trained Graduate Teacher, Academic Coordinator
Interview questions for a Assistant Teacher
- How would you teach subtraction with borrowing to a Class 2 child who keeps making mistakes?
- Plan a 10-minute activity to open a Class 4 EVS lesson on water.
- Three children in your class cannot read simple words. What will you do this month?
- You are on lunch duty and a child falls ill. How do you manage the class?
- How would you respond to a parent who says their child is bored in class?
- Why did you choose teaching, and which classes do you enjoy most?
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What does an assistant teacher do?
An assistant teacher teaches assigned subjects to primary or upper primary classes, checks notebooks, assesses children, keeps attendance and mark records and contacts parents about absences and progress. They also take assembly, lunch and dispersal duties and help with school events. In many schools it is the regular entry-level teaching post.
What is the difference between an assistant teacher and a teaching assistant?
An assistant teacher is a qualified teacher who teaches classes independently and is responsible for results. A teaching assistant supports a lead teacher: preparing materials, helping small groups, managing the room and checking work, but not owning the class. Teaching assistants often move up to assistant teacher posts after completing D.El.Ed or B.Ed.
What is the qualification for an assistant teacher?
For Classes 1 to 5, schools usually ask for a D.El.Ed or an equivalent diploma, and for Classes 6 to 8, a graduate degree with a B.Ed. Passing CTET or the state TET is commonly required at both levels. Government posts follow the state's recruitment notification.