BEd colleges scamper for cover

PUNE, Nov 26: A large number from the 144 Bachelor of Education B Ed colleges in the State may not be allowed to admit students from the n...

PUNE, Nov 26: A large number from the 144 Bachelor of Education B Ed colleges in the State may not be allowed to admit students from the next academic year for having failed to obtain the recognition of National Council of Teachers Education NCTE.

NCTE, established as a nodal body for teachers8217; education in the country, has issued directives making it mandatory for all BEd colleges to obtain its recognition. The aim is to establish high standards in teachers8217; education.

As NCTE has clearly ruled out any grounds of compromise while granting recognition, there is a virtual panic among BEd colleges who are finding themselves at a loss to save as many as 13,000 seats in the State.

However, despite the concern only 25 colleges have been able to secure the council8217;s recognition.

Gauging the gravity of the situation, the Higher Education Directorate here has dashed off 8220;letters of caution8221; to all the universities. It has asked them to be prepared for the inspection and implement necessary corrective measures to make up for the deficiencies which may harm their claim to obtain the NCTE recognition.

Meanwhile, the regional office of the council at Bhopal has already launched the inspection of the BEd colleges in Maharashtra for their gradation and subsequent affiliation for running the course.

The council has constituted special team of education experts which will inspect the BEd colleges and evaluate their standard on the basis of their academic progress, besides other factors such as infrastructure facilities, teaching aids, adequate staff and conduct of admissions in conformation with the centralised admission process.

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It is not enough for colleges to merely obtain the recognition. The council will grant recognition for a certain time period ranging from one to three years depending upon the gradation of the college. After the expiry of the affiliation period, the colleges will be again subjected to inspections and will have to apply for the recognition afresh.

In Maharashtra, of the 144 BEd colleges, 48 are on grant basis and 12 of these are run by the State Government. The remaining 96 colleges are on no-grant basis. Shocked by the NCTE8217;s 8220;absolute no8221; to admissions without recognition, the universities are now pressing the State Government to plead their case before the council.

8220;We have requested the council that after the inspection, a period of at least six months be given to the colleges to carry out corrective measures and make up for the deficiencies if any. The State government has suggested that such colleges may again be visited for a second round of inspection before taking any final decision for their approval,8221; K P Sonawane, director of higher education, told The Indian Express.