Revision of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Restructuring and Reorganisation of Teacher Education

Revision of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Restructuring and Reorganisation of Teacher Education

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved modifications of the existing scheme for Reorganization and Restructuring of Teacher Education in order to meet the exceptional challenges for the Teacher Education system arising from the massive spatial and numerical expansion of schooling facilities at the elementary and secondary levels, the corresponding increase in the demand for teachers and to fulfill the statutory obligations of the Government with regard to teacher preparation and teacher training under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Modification of the scheme is also critical in the context of the need for training requirements of teachers at the secondary level under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan. 

It is estimated that an amount of Rs.6308.45 crore would be required, as Central share, as per the Plan allocation during the XII Plan.

The revision of the Scheme can be grouped in three broad categories, i.e.

i) Revision of existing norms:

a) Strengthening and up-gradation of State Councils for Educational Research and Training/State Institutes of Education

b) Strengthening of existing Institutes of Advanced Study in Education (lASEs) and up-gradation of Departments of Education of Universities into lASEs.

c) Strengthening of CTEs and establishment of new CTEs.

d) Strengthening of existing DIETs and extending their mandate for training of teachers at the secondary level.

ii) Inclusion of new components:

a) Establishment of Block institutes of Teacher Education (BITEs) in 196 identified SC/ST/Minority concentration districts for undertaking elementary pre-service teacher education programmes.

b) Professional Development of Teacher Educators

c) Technology in Teacher Education

d) Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Teacher Education

e) Monitoring Mechanism

iii) Revision of fund sharing pattern between the Centre and the State - 75:25 ratio between Centre and States (90:10 for NER States including Sikkim) to ensure greater ownership by the States.

The scheme will be implemented through State Governments/UTs, who will submit their annual proposals for consideration and approval of the Teacher Education Approval Board (TEAB) constituted by the Department.

The implementation of the scheme would help to address non¬-availability of teachers; enhance the effectiveness of teachers through better training and ICT support. It will improve the quality of Teacher Education through involvement of Institutes of Higher Education.

Background:

The existing centrally sponsored scheme "Teacher Education" is being implemented through the State Governments and UTs since 1987 pursuant to the formulation of the National Policy on Education, 1986 which emphasized the significance and need for a decentralized system for the professional preparation of teachers. Subsequently, District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), Colleges of Teacher Education (CTEs) and Institutes of Advanced Study in Education (lASEs) were established.

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Source : PIB Release date 23/03/2012