MHRD overhaul NCTE The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has given the green signal for a complete overhaul of norms and standards of National Council for Teacher Education. This has been done after long deliberations with various stakeholders and also addresses many concerns and recommendations of Justice J S Varma committee appointed by the Supreme Court. One of the highlights of the changed regulatory regime is that B.Ed will now be a two-year course. And those aspiring to be teachers can start young. Gujarat model of an integrated four-year course leading to B.A and B.Ed degree will be started immediately after class 12th. Those who want to be primary school teachers can get into two-year diploma in education course after class 12th. In order to ensure that teacher education does not become an isolated stream, people having done B.Com and B.Tech can also do the two-year B.Ed course with intense curriculum. Government has created more alternate routes to becoming a teacher. For instance, in-service untrained primary school teachers hired in high numbers in UP and Bihar can now do diploma in education through distance mode. Similarly, primary school teachers already with diploma in education degree can upgrade to B.Ed through distance mode. Unqualified secondary school teachers will now have to do a three-year part time B.Ed course in class room mode during vacations. Important thing is that almost 20 weeks of practical work has been weaved in the course. Out of 20 weeks they will have to teach for at least 16 weeks. One-fourth of their assessment marks will depend on practical, a senior official said. For the first time, masters in education (M.Ed) has also been revamped and specialization has been introduced. Those already with B.Ed can do two-year M.Ed with specialization in secondary and senior secondary. And those with diploma in education and graduation degree can do M.Ed for two years with specialization for elementary education. Catering to a long-standing demand those with MA/M.Sc degree in any subject can do integrated B.Ed/M.Ed for three years with specialization in secondary education. Changes have also been introduced in the administration of teacher education institutions. Those opening teacher education institutions can do it online and will have to get accreditation from bodies like National Assessment and Accreditation Council. Yoga, information technology and gender has been included in curriculum of all programmes, ToI reported.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 16:48:18 +0000