Thiruvananthapuram: In a significant move, Kerala is ready to transform its teacher education system, aligning it with the changing educational landscape and the National Education Policy. The state government intends to replace existing teacher education courses, such as the Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.) and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), with an integrated degree program. According to directives from the central authority, the minimum qualification required to become a teacher will now be graduation. The Kerala government will conduct a special aptitude test for admission to teaching degree programmes, ensuring that only individuals genuinely interested in teaching secure admission. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT Kerala) is expected to submit a comprehensive report on the proposed changes in teacher education to the government.
The central proposal calls for a four-year integrated teacher education programme, ushering in a new era of teacher preparation. Furthermore, it suggests restructuring school education as a 5+3+3+4 system. Additionally, there is a recommendation to introduce three types of integrated degree programmes: BA-B.Ed., BSc-B.Ed., and BCom-B.Ed. These programmes would span four years, encompassing eight semesters, with a minimum of 96 working days per semester. The proposal also advocates for the inclusion of distinct courses in all four stages of education: foundation, preparatory, middle, and secondary.
If these proposals are implemented, the D.El.Ed. and B.Ed. courses, which have been the traditional routes to teacher certification, will be phased out. This move will result in the closure of 187 B.Ed. centres and 202 D.Ed. institutions, including four government-run institutions. To maximise the potential of these institutions, the recommendation is to convert them into centres for multi-level subjects. Some B.Ed. centres may merge with other colleges, while others may be shut down altogether.
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