Self-Esteem of the Student-Teachers of Imphal East District, Manipur

Abstract

“Self-esteem” refers to an individual’s overall perception of self-worth and confidence in one’s abilities, and it plays a central role in personal growth and professional success. For student-teachers, who are at the initial stage of teacher preparation, self-esteem is particularly important as it shapes their attitude towards learning, enhances their ability to face challenges, and builds the confidencazae required to manage classroom effectively. A healthy level of self-esteem helps them develop positive teacher-student relationships, make sound pedagogical decisions, and cultivate resilience in the teaching profession. Conversely, low self-esteem may negatively affect their motivazation, communication and overall teaching performance. The present study aims to examine the self-esteem of student-teachers in Imphal East District, Manipur, with a focus on understanding its overall level and exploring how it varies across gender and locality, thereby highlighting its significance in teacher education. A descriptive survey method was employed to gather quantitative data from a total sample of 225 student-teachers across teacher education institutions in the district. A standardized self-esteem scale developed by Dr. Santosh Dhar and Dr. Upinder Dhar (2015), which measures six dimensions-positivity, openness, competence, humility, self-worth, and learning orientation was employed. The findings revealed that majority of the student-teachers of Imphal East District have Normal self-esteem level and there was a significant difference in the self-esteem of student-teachers of Imphal East District with respect to their gender and locality.