Centre sets the ball rolling for 4-year teacher course

The Centre has begun the process of rolling out the four-year integrated teacher education programme in science, commerce and humanities streams in 2019, notifying revised regulations for its introduction in the country’s higher education institutions.

On completion of the four-year integrated teacher education programme (pre-primary to primary, upper-primary to secondary), students will get a BA, BSc or BCom degree as per their choice of stream, besides a qualifying degree to take up teaching job in schools.

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has invited “composite institutions” to send in proposals by December 31, setting in motion the launch of the programme from next year.

According to NCTE regulations, a composite institution is a higher education institution offering undergraduate or postgraduate programmes of study in the field of liberal arts, humanities, social sciences, commerce, mathematics as well as those offering multiple teacher education programmes.

Students with at least 50% marks in Class XII board (pre-university college) examinations will be eligible for admission.

The programme seeks to attract fresh Class XII board pass-outs to teaching profession, with the country facing acute shortage of qualified teachers in school sector.

According to sources, the introduction of the programme is also a prelude to the government’s plan to phase out traditional BEd courses.

The programme shall be of four academic years comprising eight semesters, inclusive of field-based experiences, teaching practice and internship.

“Any student-teacher who is unable to complete any semester or appear in any semester-end examination, shall be permitted to complete the programme within a maximum period of six years from the date of admission to the programme with the approval of the Managing Committee,” the NCTE regulations provide.