Frequently Asked Questions


  • What is Akanksha recruiting for?
    • Akanksha is currently recruiting teachers for 9 schools and 46 centers across Mumbai and Pune. Akanksha schools vary in size and grow by a grade each year. While they are mostly recruiting full-time class teachers, Akanksha is also recruiting a few part-time subject teachers. The centers are recruiting part-time teachers.
  • Why Akanksha?
    • Akanksha works persistently to provide a high quality education to its students. It understands that to put its children on a different life trajectory, it needs to attract high quality teachers who are driven by a sense of urgency and belief in the children. It provides a strong curriculum and pedagogy and yet gives the teacher freedom to use his/her creativity in the classroom to achieve the required outcomes. Akanksha invests in building teacher capability prior to the start of the academic year and ensures ongoing training to continuously develop its teachers. It employs a large proportion of its funds towards hiring the best teachers and investing in their continuous professional development.

  • Who is Akanksha’s ideal candidate?
    • Do you believe in Akanksha’s mission and feel excited by the challenge of transforming the lives of under-privileged children? Do you whole-heartedly believe that ALL children can climb the mountain to college? Is your head bursting with creative ideas of how you can teach multiplication, poetry or values to children? If you answered yes to the above questions then don’t waste any more time – apply.
  • If I do not have a degree in Education eg. B. Ed, can I still teach at Akanksha?
    • Yes, Akanksha is looking for applicants who believe in the capability of every single child irrespective of his/her background and who demonstrate a potential to be a high quality teacher even if they haven’t taught before. Over the next few years, all primary school teachers across India will be required by the government to attain a degree in Education and Akanksha will work with and support you in attaining the degree.
  • If I haven’t taught before, can I still teach at Akanksha?
    • Yes, if you have not taught before you can still teach at Akanksha. Akanksha is looking for applicants who believe in the capability of every single child irrespective of his/her background and who demonstrate a potential to be a high quality teacher.
  • What is Akanksha’s selection process for Teacher Recruiting?
    • The following outlines Akanksha’s selection process. Akanksha will shortlist candidates who will go to the next stage of the selection process.
      • Apply online
      • Shortlisted candidates complete an interview over the telephone
      • Classroom observation
      • Assessment of Teaching ability through a demo lesson
      • Final interview in person
  • How many hours will I have to work as a full time school teacher?
    • A full time kindergarten teacher works 32-35 hours per week and full time primary teacher works 42 hours per week.
  • How many hours will I have to work as a center teacher?
    • A center teacher works for approximately 4 hours per day and would be required to attend a teachers meeting once a month for 4 hours.
  • What is the difference between a full time and a part time teaching opportunity?
    • Schools: A full time teacher holds a class teacher position and works for 32-42 hours per week. A part time teacher teaches specific subjects eg. Sports, Art, Environmental Science etc. As the school grows into higher grades, a part time subject teacher could move into a full time role in the same subject.
    • Centers: All center teachers work part time i.e. approximately 4 hours per day.
  • What is the difference between the school and the center model?
    • The center program is an after school model for children who already attend municipal schools during the day and want to supplement their education. Akanksha centers focus on English, Maths and Values.
    • Since 2007, Akanksha has adopted 9 municipal schools through a public private partnership with the Pune and Bombay Municipal Corporations. Akanksha hires and trains the school team to provide a better quality of education to its children. Eight of the schools start at LKG and have reached primary level (varying from 2nd-6th grade) and one school will be 3rd-10th grade next year.
  • Why did Akanksha move from a center model to a school model?
    • The school model was built on the premise that 2.5 hours a day was not enough to have a deep impact on the children academically as well as socially and emotionally. Therefore, the school model provided an opportunity to extend the day and have a higher likelihood of changing their life trajectory.
  • Do you require a different set of qualifications for a school and a center teacher?
    • When you apply you do not require a different set of qualifications to be a center or a school teacher. However, the government has made it mandatory for all primary school teachers to have an education degree in a few years. Hence, over time, all primary school teachers will need to attain a B. Ed to continue teaching at Akanksha schools. Akanksha will support its teachers to attain this degree.
  • How does Akanksha decide which schools to adopt?
    • Akanksha works with the Municipal Governments in both Mumbai and Pune to identify appropriate schools for adoption.  Usually, these are non-operational schools that need a team of teachers and principals and do not have too many children already. Akanksha actively seeks to expand to high-need communities as well as within the communities it already serves and hence proactively works with the government to identify such schools.  Akanksha also seeks to ensure that there will be adequate space for the school to grow each year from LKG up to 10th Standard so that space does not become a constraint.