Recognition freeze for new teacher education institutes, courses for one more year

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has decided not to grant recognition to new teacher training institutes or programmes for the academic session 2019-20.

It will also freeze intake in the existing institutions for   2019-20.

The NCTE had frozen recognition and introduction of new courses for the academic year 2018-19 also, through a notification last year.

The Council has cited various problems and issues, including the rollout of five-year integrated B Ed courses on the direction of the central government, for the freeze.

"The NCTE has decided not to invite/accept any applications for the academic session 2019-20 for recognition of new teacher training institutions/programmes, including additional courses/increase of intake in the existing institutions/programmes in order to regulate the growth of teacher education," Council's Member Secretary Sanjay Awasthi said, issuing a notification.

This is also intended to give "time for a proper rollout" of BA-BEd, BSc-BEd integrated programnmes, he added.

Mega overhaul

The Council has undertaken a mega exercise to overhaul teacher education and training sector in the country.

Based on the feedback and suggestions from the State governments and the Union Territory administrations, it is formulating a revised regulatory framework for teacher education and training institutes.

It has also mapped the requirement of teacher education institutes in each of the States in consultation with the respective governments.