Four-year integrated BA BEd, BSc BEd from this year

The Centre is set to roll out a four-year integrated BA BEd and BSc BEd programmes from 2015-16 academic session, with the Human Resource Development Ministry revising the teacher education courses’ curriculum and duration.

This was announced during a meeting of the State Education Ministers, presided over by HRD Minister Smriti Irani here on Tuesday.

The ministry will also introduced two-year MA MEd programme from 2015-16 academic session, a senior official of the Ministry told the meeting, while making a presentation on reforms in teacher education and the regulations of the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE), recently revised to improve the quality of teachers’ education programme.

With the new integrated system, a student will now be able to get both the Bachelors in Science or Arts as well as a Bachelors degree in education in four years.

The two year integrated MA MEd programme will enable a student to get both Masters degrees together in two years. 

In the existing system, a student has to study for two additional years besides the three year bachelors to get B Ed, while Masters Students should spend an additional year besides their two year regular programme to secure M Ed.

A student can under take BA BEd and BSc BEd programmes based on their personal preferences soon after passing class XII while a candidate can take up MA MEd programme after graduation. 

Aiming at improving the quality of teacher education programmes, the Ministry has also decided to disallow students to undertake all teachers’ education programmed through distance education.

A student undertaking BEd through distance learning will have to undertake MEd course in class room mode.

While working teachers have an option to pursue B Ed through distance education, they will have to complete the course in three years.

Those pursuing any of the teachers’ education programmes will have to teach in a school in their vicinity for at least 20 weeks.

At the post graduate level, a student will have option to specialise in one subject like elementary education, a Ministry official said.

 Addressing the day-long conference, Smriti Irani said:  “Students and families are never consulted (on education policy). In the coming months, we will go to the states to listen to them. States should help us to hold deliberations right from the village educational council to the block and state level. We will hold a workshop in February with the education ministers in this regard.”