BEd degree now mandatory for teaching

West Bengal School Education department on Wednesday announced that BEd degree would be mandatory qualification for teaching in government

West Bengal School Education department on Wednesday announced that BEd (Bachelor of Education) degree would be mandatory qualification for teaching in government or government-aided schools in the state. Similarly,primary school teachers ought to have Diploma in Elementary Education.

The release issued by the department stated that School Service Commission (SSC),which recruits teachers in government-aided schools,has been asked to implement the new set of rules. However,candidates without BEd degree will be allowed to take the SSC exam till 2014.

Till now,having a BEd degree was optional for people applying for SSC exam. But from now on it would be mandatory, said Bikram Sen,Principal

Secretary in School Education Department.

The state governments move comes in the wake of the imlementation of Right To Education Act,which makes it mandatory for all the schools to have trained teachers.

Meanwhile,the School Service Commission will give preference to BEd students while hiring teachers. Only if the vacancy

continues to exist,the commission would consider non BEd candidates,said an official.

However,in case non BEd candidate gets is recruited,he or she has complete their BEd in two years.

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Between 2005 and 2009,the minimum eligibility criteria for applying for BEd course was 45 per cent aggregate in graduation,later it was increased to 50 per cent. The School Service Commission recruits about 10,000 teachers every year depending on vacancies. So far,a majority of non BEd candidates get the jobs.

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