The evolution of the digital era has seen the boom or obsolescence of many a profession. While disruptive technologies that come with sophisticated algorithms and robots have wiped out many manual tasks, most other professions have embraced technology as an Enabler to deliver superior products and services. One such profession that has seen a macro-evolution is teaching. By the term macro-evolution, I mean a large-scale evolution in the teaching platforms, delivery mechanisms, creation of interactive content etc. that has resulted in a seamless learning experience.

The pandemic has ushered in a transformation that was initially forced, but is now being embraced as it offers promising and effective solutions. The Covid-19 tailwinds have aided growth through increased demand for online platforms, professional upskilling and pursuing long-lost passions. Education can no longer be visualized as a confined brick-walled classroom with a black board and teacher. Today’s illustration of a classroom would look something like the picture above, and is poised for rapid growth.

The Ed-tech industry has seen a revolution which began a couple of years ago, but has witnessed unprecedented growth in the year 2020. India and China have emerged the powerhouses that are investing heavily in the education sector and together represent more than 70% of the global Ed-tech venture capital. As of 29th June 2020, Byju’s is the largest unicorn Ed-tech startup globally among 19 Ed-tech unicorns with a valuation of approximately $10 billion dollars. (Source: Holon IQ) The Ed-tech industry with its numerous other existing/new entrants have the potential to fuel the country’s socio-economic growth and set the ball rolling to stimulate the dwindling economy.

The most recent newsflash in this category was Byju’s acquisition of Whitehat Jr, which offers a promising opportunity to nurture the technologists of tomorrow. Whitehat Jr, an online platform that teaches coding to kids through 1:1 sessions has over 2.5 million registered students worldwide. Equipped with a curriculum designed by IIT and MIT alumnus, and a strong team of 7000 teachers, this 2-year old start-up has a vision to empower the next generation to become creators versus consumers of technology.

What does this scenario promise to the next-generation teachers?

A couple of months back, the Whitehat Jr team contacted us for hiring women tutors to teach coding. What struck my attention was that they were seeking to empower talented Indian women by recruiting qualified women candidates and providing them a flexible opportunity to work from the comfort of their homes at hours that suited them. The teachers undergo a rigorous selection process including demo classes, which results in hiring only the best of talents and thereby ensuring quality education.

This has opened up a world of opportunities to many young women who couldn’t pursue their careers because of immobility. What more, the teachers could boast of a dream career with the highest-paying education platform, Early Childhood Coding certification and option to scale up their earnings by simply choosing to work more hours. The company has an engaging culture similar to any large corporate where the teachers are made to feel part of a team with activities like virtual conferences and meetings, a monthly newsletter to celebrate teachers’ accomplishments, and continuous training and mentoring opportunities.

AI and Robotics are the game-changers in literally all sectors, and with coding emerging as a universal language, the demand for qualified and certified teachers will grow multi-fold in the coming years. The recently announced National Education Policy’s emphasis on skill and digital-based education systems and prospect of including coding in the curriculum shows the government’s commitment towards India’s digital transformation.

Teaching is the one profession that creates all other professions, by nurturing human minds which are the world’s greatest resource. With the advent of corporate-style HR practices, the new day Gurus or teachers feel more empowered; and the profession is no less lucrative than a corporate white collar job. The millennials and Gen Z who are constantly striving to strike a better work-life balance and break free from the clutches of a regular 9-5 job are increasingly seeking such flexible professions that will also allow them to grow and achieve their career aspirations.