It is all about mobility & types of mobility with specific examples with special reference to a teacher

1. Vertical Mobility of a
Teacher
By,
Garima Tandon
B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed.
Banaras Hindu University

2. 1
S.No. Content Page
No.
1. Introduction to Social Mobility 2-3
2. Meaning of Vertical Mobility 3-4
3. Types of Vertical Mobility 4-6
4. Principles of Vertical Mobility 6-7
5. Avenues for a Teacher 7-12
6. Activities that help in vertical mobility of a school teacher 12
7. Factors affecting Vertical Social Mobility 13-19
8. Benefits of Vertical Mobility 19
9. Demerits of Vertical Mobility 19
10. Conclusion 19
11. References 20
INDEX

3. 2
Introduction-
A society is constituted by the people who are dynamic (over-changing) in nature.
From the primitive uncivilized form it has evolved in to modern civilized and cultured
society. This proves beyond doubt the dynamic (ever-changing) nature of the society
in which social mobility has played a dominant role since time immoral. The social
position, status and economic conditions of people change from time to time. In many
cases social status and economic standard of person changes due to hard work or
lighter education or purely due to superior intellect. Better education and better service
also help in change of the socially disadvantaged groups like women and the people
belonging to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes or backward classes. Lack of better
education and will to do hard work have made rich people poor, thereby lowering the
standard of living. Such type of changes which are observed in the social status, class,
economic condition and standard of life of a person are spoken of as Social Mobility.
In accordance with the direction of movement of the people in the society, social
mobility can be categorized into two types:
1. Horizontal Mobility- When the movement of a person occurs from one
situation to another at the same level i.e. within the single stratum, the process is
called horizontal social mobility. In other words, in this type of mobility, there
Mobility
Horizontal Mobility Vertical Mobility

4. 3
is no change in the social status of the individual but there is a change in his
affiliations. For example, when a Principal of Secondary School at palm joins at
the same post in a Secondary School at South Ex. In this example the status and
role of the person working as a Principal remains the same but there is a change
in the place of work which brings about change in this affiliations, thus he
shows horizontal social mobility.
2. Vertical Mobility- Vertical mobility refers to a person or group's movement up
or down a status hierarchy. This is commonly referred to as social mobility, yet
vertical mobility can also refer to any movement up or down a hierarchy of any
kind, not necessarily related to social status in the same way that social mobility
is. According to Dictionary.com (2020), it is the movement of individuals or
groups to positions in society that involve a change in class, status, and power”.
Here Vertical Mobility is area of consideration and is described below in detail.
Vertical Mobility
Sorokin says, “By vertical mobility, I mean the relations involved in a transition of an
individual (or social object) from one social stratum to another”. The movement of a
person from one stratum of the society is referred as Vertical Social Mobility i.e., in
Vertical Social Mobility there is a change in the status of the individual. The
individual attains high education and becomes rich, He moves upward in the social
hierarchy. For example, when a teacher becomes a lecturer in a college is said to have
moved vertically.

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In teaching profession vertical mobility can be seen in the form of:
 Promotion
 Enhancement of Prestige
 Enhancement in Salary
 Improvement in Status
 Upgradation of Strata
Types of Vertical Mobility- it can be categorized under following two groups as:
A. Downward / Descending Mobility- Downward or Descending mobility
means going down of a person from higher position prestige and status to lower
ones. This type of mobility denotes “social descendance” or “social failure”.
Sometimes individuals who fail to maintain their social, political or economic
position, lost their status. It may occur due to political changes, laziness or
carelessness, Economic depression and crests of character, etc. This type of
mobility is caused due to following two factors. (i) The first factor is lack of
initiative and efforts on the part of the people. Due to lethargy, rich and
Types of Vertical
Mobility
Downward / Descending
Mobility
(Social Sinking)
Upward / Ascending
Mobility
(Social Climbing)

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prosperous people have faced deseeding social mobility. (ii) The second factor
which leads to downward vertical social mobility is social change.
Downward mobility occurs in government and private services and is generally
the outcome of some sort of inefficiency or acts of criminal tendencies.
B. Upward / Ascending Mobility- Upward Social Mobility refers to the
movement from lower to higher occur from position. Ascending mobility means
the entry of i.e., within persons from lower strata and prestige to higher status
and prestige groups. This type of mobility denotes “social ascendance” or
“social improvement”. For example, if a person is born in a family of a sweeper
and after acquiring must learn the cultural behaviours of officers. This requires
the individual trying for upward social mobility to learn the following. (i)
Ability to behave and work according to upper class people. (ii) Language, style
and their dress pattern. (iii) He must live in that area of city where upper class
people live. (iv)He must also develop the ability to participate in social
functions organized by them. In teaching profession example of upward social
mobility are promotion of a TGT teacher to the post of PGT, promotion of a
lecturer to readership etc. Additional responsibilities are also added with this
upliftment.
Types of Upward Vertical
Mobility
Struggling / Talent
based Mobility
Sponsored Mobility

7. 6
a. Struggling / Talent based Mobility- If a person get promoted to higher
status due to his/her struggle or performance then this type of upward
mobility is called struggling or talent based mobility. For example
promotion of a PGT level teacher to Principal due to his/her dedication
towards work, qualifications, and experiences.
b. Sponsored Mobility- - If a person get promoted to higher status due to
his/her contact with higher authorities/social capital or high donation to
obtain that position then this type of upward mobility is called sponsored
mobility.
It can be achieved through following:
 Nepotism
 Donation
For example promotion of a PGT level teacher to principal due to his/her
contact with higher authorities of education field.
Principles of Vertical Mobility-
Vertical mobility is intensive in relatively open societies. Sorokin has indicated the
following general principles of vertical mobility:
1) There has scarcely been any society whose strata were absolutely closed or in
which vertical mobility in its three forms – economic, political and
occupational was not present.
2) There has never been existed a society in which vertical social mobility has
been absolutely free and the transition from one social stratum to another has
had no resistance.

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3) The intensiveness as well as the generality of vertical social mobility, varies
from society to society.
4) The intensiveness and generality of the vertical mobility – the economic, the
political and the occupational- fluctuate in the same society at different lines.
Vertical Mobility related Avenues for a School Teacher-
Teaching is as old as human civilization. Particularly in India, where knowledge is no
exotic, teaching and teacher has always acquired a special place in the society. Earlier,
it never acquired any formal degree to be a teacher, but today it requires a degree of
B.Ed. which is the first professional degree of teaching acquired after graduation/
post-graduation in any school subject. A school teacher can get promoted to other
higher post. It can be based on time of work (year of experience) or on degrees /
achievements. Some of these avenues are described below:
1. TGT- A PRT teacher can be promoted to TGT after completion of required
year of teaching as PRT. Recruitment at this post can also be through the direct
entrance examination and interview. Steps of recruiting TGT & pattern of
written test may vary from institution to institution as can be seen in the case of
schools under KVS, NVS, and State Boards.
2. PGT- A TGT teacher can be promoted to PGT after completion of required
year of teaching as TGT. Recruitment at this post can also be through the direct
entrance examination and interview. Steps of recruiting PGT & pattern of
written test may vary from institution to institution as can be seen in the case of
schools under KVS, NVS, and State Boards.
3. Principal- It can also be recruited through direct selection via entrance test &
interview or through promotion from lower strata.

9. 8
4. Education Officer- Recruitment to this level can be either through promotion
of principals or through direct selection via combination of MCQ & written
entrance test and interview (For example Basic Education Officers’ selection
through the joint exams organized at the level of UPPSC).
5. Assistant Commissioner- Education officers and principal may get promoted
to this post or process can be direct selection based.
6. Deputy Commissioner- Assistant commissioners got this post after promotion.
7. Joint Commissioner- Joint commissioners got this post after promotion.
8. Curriculum Developer- Curriculum is implemented by teachers at ground
level therefore some of them are selected from this level to prepare a curriculum
framework at broader level. This selection can be made on the basis of area of
specialization, expert of field or nepotism. Further at local level some teachers
are nominated as member of curriculum development committee of institution
for developing curriculum. Therefore it is also an avenue for teacher.
9. Textbook Developer- Books are one of the basic Teaching Learning Material.
Various experts with content mastery in specific area can work as textbook
developer.
10.Module Developer- Study through modules become very popular as it became
an effective approach of learning. A teacher as subject expert can play role as
module developer.
11.Motivational Speaker- It is also an opportunistic post to gain prestige and
status in teaching profession.
12.Counsellor- In modern scenario, students are facing many problems and have
learning stress due to over pressure and expectation from parents, society and

10. 9
teachers. Due to this, emerges a need of guidance and counselling. A teacher
with the P.G. degree in Psychology or Diploma in Guidance and Counselling is
eligible for this post.
13.Resource Person- It is also an avenue as that of motivational speaker. An
expert of his/her field can use this platform for enhancing his/her experience
and got prestigious place by transforming lectures at various institutions as a
resource/guest person.
14. Entrepreneurial Avenues- Today the dimensions of education have changed
and entrepreneurship became an important avenue for school teachers. It can be
fruitful to masses in various ways- a. generate service for the society, b.
generate money for individual, c. generate job for unemployed, and d. source of
status and money for entrepreneur. There are some opportunities for a B.Ed.
professional who is motivated, energetic and ambitious to do something for self
and society as described below:
a. A Non-governmental Organization (NGO) to provide educational
services (The process involves development of Bye-laws of the
organization and registration in the Chit-Fund office at the district level in
the beginning).
b. A registered coaching centre for different educational stream students.
c. A registered tuition bureau.
d. A registered centre for educational guidance and counselling related to
general and special children.
e. A registered school (Primary, Secondary, Intermediate).
15. Teacher Educator- A school teacher/individual with P.G. in own subject with
M.Ed. or M.A. in Education (recently with some contradictions under
jurisdiction) along with UGC NET/JRF or M.Phil. or Ph.D. in Education is

11. 10
eligible to obtain this job. In this area, there are various posts to getting
promoted. These positions are mentioned below in order of promotion:
a. Lecturer
b. Senior Lecture
c. Reader
d. Professor
e. Head of Department
f. Dean of Faculty
g. Vice Chancellor
Required qualifications to getting promoted in this field is described in following
flowchart in similar order of promotion as pointed out above:
Entry as
Teacher
Educator
Lecturer
[With at least M.Ed. degree + UGC NET, or JRF or M.Phil. or Ph.D. in
education
[[[
[[
Next
Level
Senior Lecturer
[At least 4 years of experience as a lecturer with Ph.D. in education + one
orientation course in education
“Or”
6 years of experience as a lecturer in education without Ph.D. + one refresher
course in education + one orientation course in education]
+

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Next
Level
Next
Level
Senior Lecturer (Selection Grade)
[With 8 years of experience as a lecturer with Ph.D. in education + one
refresher course in education conducted by different Academic staff colleges
of UGC
[[[
[[
Reader in Education
[With 5 years of experience as a lecturer with Ph.D. in education + good
academic record including sufficient publication in various journals,
magazines etc.
[[[
[[
Next
Level
Next
Level
Professor in Education
[With 10 years of experience as lecturer with Ph.D. in education + good
academic record including sufficient publication in various journals,
magazines
[[[
[ [

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16.Special Education related avenues- A school teacher with degree of B.Ed. in
special education or B.Ed. in General Education with Diploma in area of
impairment can work as special education teacher in special schools as well as
normal schools with inclusive setting at different levels. He/she can work as
specialist & counsellor of disabled children as his/her area of specialization,
clinical psychologist, therapist and many others.
Activities that help in vertical mobility of a school teacher-
Academic Performance Index plays very important role in vertical mobility of a
teacher. It can be enhanced by following activities:
 Blog writing
 Participation in adventurous activities
 Innovations in teaching
 Research
 Participation in in-service education program such as:
 Seminar
 Conferences
 Workshops
 Orientation Programs
 Refresher Courses
Manifold Opportunities in Education
(Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, Vice Chancellor of
University, Member of State and Central Level Committees,
Commissions, Director, Chairman of Different Organizations like
UGC, NUEPA, AICTE, NCTE, RCI etc.)
[[[
[[

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Factors Affecting Vertical Social Mobility-
1. Economic Prosperity- There are three main groups in the society known as
poor, middle and rich. There are various differences in their standard of living,
Rich people are respected very much in the society due to their riches.
Therefore, every individual in the society is trying his best to earn money and to
improve upon his position so as to enter into the category of rich people.
2. Structure of Society- Social structure of society influences the social mobility.
The societies of the world can be divided into two groups- closed societies and
open societies. Closed societies are caste ridden (as in India) and the status of a
person is determined by his being born in a particular caste. Therefore, in such a
society chances of mobility are very less because such society remains within
the bonds of caste and heredity. For example- A person born in a family of
Brahmins, may be poor of bad character, will enjoy the status of Brahmin due to
his birth in a Brahmin family. But in an open society equality of opportunities
are provided which encourage more vertical social mobility due to the
capabilities and educational achievement of the individuals.
3. Motivation- Each individual has a desire not only to have a better way of living
but also wants to improve upon his social stand. In open system it is possible to
achieve any status. This openness motivates people to work hard and improve
upon the skills so that one can attain higher social status. Without such
motivation and efforts on the part of the individual social mobility is
impossible.
4. Achievements and Failures- Achievement here refers to extra ordinary,
usually unexpected performance, which attracts the attention of a wider public
to the abilities of a person. Not all achievements will result in social mobility.

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Achievements affect status only if they are remarkable. Failures and misdeeds
have a similar effect on downward mobility.
5. Skills and Training- Each society makes provision to impart skill and training
to the younger generation. To acquire skill and training one has to spend a lot of
time as well as money. This gives incentives to such persons. When they
complete their training, they are entitled to high positions, which are far better
than those positions which they might have taken without such training. Society
not only assigns higher social status but also gives higher economic rewards and
other privileges to those persons who have these training. Keeping in view these
incentives people undergo these training with a hope to move up in the social
ladder. In other words, skills and training facilitate in improvement of the
position, this leading to social mobility.
6. Legislation- The enactment of new laws can also facilitate vertical social
mobility. Reservation with regard to admission in professional colleges, job
reservation and promotions have a large number of individuals from Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes to improve upon their status. When V.R Singh
Government accepted the Mandal Commission report it provided job
reservation for the other Backward Classes (OBCs) also.
7. Politicisation- With education and greater exposure to mass media of
communication as well as greater contacts have made people aware about their
rights. The political parties also educate the people about their rights. To
achieve their rights people unite and force the authority in power to accept their
demands. These persons may use agitations, strikes etc. as methods of attaining
the desired goals. The political party to get votes provides a number of
concessions. With the help of these new concessions and provisions, they
improve upon their social status. A few persons may become political leaders,

16. 15
Education Ministers, etc. Many such examples can be found in the present day
Indian polity. This has resulted into upward social mobility for them.
8. Modernization- The process of modernization involves use of scientific
knowledge and modern technology. It also refers to rationality and secular way
of life. The level of development of a country also facilitates or hinders social
mobility. The less developed and traditional societies continue with old system
of stratification and with accretive statuses. Whereas the developed and modern
societies paved the way for greater opportunities and competition, it is only in
the developed countries that there is a greater possibility of achieved statuses. In
other words, modernization facilitates vertical social mobility.
9. Level of Aspiration - Social mobility is directly proportional to the aspirations
of the people. If, the people are more aspirants, we will find more vertical social
mobility in that society.
10.Demographic Structure- Vertical social mobility is closely related with
diffusion of population, its size and density. Birth rate and migration of village
folks towards towns and cities are closely connected to vertical social mobility.
11.Occupational Prestige- All the occupations in the society do not get the same
respect. Some professions carry higher prestige in comparison to other
professions. For example. Education officers are considered to be better than
Teachers.
12.Administration- In a democratic society greater opportunities are provided for
vertical social mobility in comparison with other types of administrative
societies. Democratic administration promotes vertical social mobility to be
great extent.

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13.Legal and Political Factors- Many of the legal and political restrictions have
been removed after independence. Untouchability has become a sin. Everyone
has seen provided political equality and equality of educational opportunities
etc. Any member of the society can visit temples/gurudwaras etc. By these
changes in the legal and political restrictions, mobility takes place from the
lower group to the higher group.
14.Intelligence Factor- In the modern industrialized society. The inherited
positions have become less and less because the person occupying the hair
cannot always give the same chair to his son or daughter. Thus, there are
changes in the social positions held from one generation to another generation
and, thus, making the people mobile. More intelligent the people, more will be
the chances of promotion.
15.Medium of instruction- Medium of instruction in educational system can play
a great role in bringing about mobility among the people of the society. One of
the effects of adopting a regional language as a medium of instruction in
schools and colleges is that it hinders spatial mobility of students and teachers
which is related to both horizontal and vertical social mobility.
16.Education- Vertical social mobility is promoted through development,
propagation and spread of education. However, this is only possible if everyone
gets an equal education; thus providing an avenue for mobility among the
disadvantaged. The people who receive more and more education achieve
higher and higher social status. For example if a TGT school teacher have P.G.
degree, he become eligible for promotion in PGT.

18. 17
Formal education is closely linked to upward social mobility and in this aspect,
schools play an important role in sorting out individuals into their prospective levels.
This is done through the system of examinations, supervision and promotions. Thus,
education can assist the movement of persons into the top positions in society or elite
mobility. Not only the formal system of education but the non-formal system of
education also acts as an important channel of social mobility. This system helps
individuals who were devoid of the opportunities of education at a proper age to
educate themselves.
There are various ways of facilitating vertical social mobility , such as political power,
family affiliations and education, But the most sought after is education which is
readily available to more people as educational facilities are expanded all over the
world. Education is regarded as the channel of mobility as it is:
chievement is the aspiration of people.
w would question about a person’s integrity when high academic qualification.
educational level, the more prestigious the occupation, leading to higher annual
income.
Education is a very potent means of encouraging social mobility in the Indian society.
It has multidirectional influence in promoting social mobility. Education plays such an
important role in following ways.
1. Education is the need of every person because on it depends proper development of
man. It is education that reveals the latent qualities and potentiates of man and enables
him to understand self and the environment surrounding him.
2. Education sharpens the intellect, widens the vision, helps in the wholesome and
balanced development of man and above all it leads to social, economic and political
development of a nation.

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3. Both the streams of education i.e. formal and Non-formal play a great role in
bringing about social mobility.
4. Formal education is directly and causally related to social mobility. This
relationship is generally understood to be one in which formal education itself is a
cause or one of the cause of vertical social mobility.
5. Education is directly related to occupational mobility and the subsequent
improvement in economic status and on the other hand, kit forms and element of
social change. Persons with higher education and better employment are respected
more in the society.
6. It is a purpose of education to develop within the individual such motivation as will
make him to work hard for the improvement of his social position.
7. Higher education helps in gaining higher income and, thus, education is an
important means for upward social mobility.
8. A change in occupation is considered to be the best single indicator of social
mobility. The reason for it is that occupational status is closely correlated with
educational status, Income, style of life and the other determinants of class status.
9. Education helps students belonging to lower strata of the society to go up in the
social scale and attar in a high social position in the society.
10. Education helps in preparing one-self-employment, which is an important aspect
of social uplift meant.
11. The popularity of education among women has considerably altered the social
status of women. It has helped in raising their social position, status and achievement
of high social prestige; which indicates upward social mobility of the women.

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Benefits of Vertical Mobility-
1) It enhances living standard of teacher
2) It helps to improve quality of life
3) It promotes self-efficiency & social progress
4) It enhances motivation to work
5) It also enhances productivity
6) It results in wholesome development of individual
7) It provides platform for professional development
Demerits of Vertical Mobility-
 Need to change way of thinking and behaviour
 Problem of adaptation in new environment
 Development of pride and snobbery in individuals.
Conclusion-
As evident from above discussion that teaching can be considered as an open area for
vertical mobility with various avenues. There is vast scope of promotion for a teacher,
if he/she is motivated, sincere, and honest towards his/her duty.

21. 20
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