NCTE introduces mandatory bridge course for B.Ed-qualified primary school teachers

NEW DELHI: The National Council for Technical Education (NCTE) has announced a six-month bridge course for primary teachers having BEd degree, in compliance with Supreme Court orders. The certificate course is meant for primary school teachers who had been appointed between June 28, 2018 and November 28, 2023, the council clarified.

“In compliance of above directions, the National Council for Teacher Education has designed the 6-months Certificate Course (Bridge) in Primary Teacher Education which has been approved by the Ministry of Education, Government of India,” the council said in the latest notification.

NCTE asked the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to apply for recognition to conduct the course in Online and Distance Learning (ODL) mode.

“This course will only be meant for those primary teachers who had been appointed with B.Ed. degree in accordance with NCTE's notification dated 28.06.2018 and who were in-service before the date of Hon'ble Supreme Court's judgment dated 28.11.2023,” NCTE said.

Teachers are required to complete the course within one year of its commencement by NIOS. No candidate outside the ambit of the top court’s judgment will be allowed to avail the certification, the council asserted. “Appropriate mechanism will be evolved by NCTE and NIOS to ensure that any candidate, who is not covered under the ambit of the judgment dated 08.04.2024, shall not avail of the Course. Orders of the competent authority in this Department will be obtained in this regard,” it stated.

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The primary school teachers may avail the one-time opportunity to complete the course as the apex court has directed that failure of any candidate to participate and complete the course within time frame, as decided by the educational authorities, will invalidate their appointment, NCTE further informed and promised sufficient advertisement, wide publicity of the course.

Moreover, qualifying the bridge course will be strictly meant for teachers to protect their existing employment only and it will not be valid for those teachers seeking subsequent employment as primary teachers.

Supreme Court order on appointment of BEd qualified teachers

SC issued the following directions:

As it appears that a large number of candidates with B.Ed. degree had already been appointed on the basis of eligibility criteria specified by the educational authorities, we do not think it to be equitable to effect their removal. We, accordingly hold that the judgment delivered by this Bench on 11th August, 2023 shall have prospective operation. But prospective operation of this judgment shall be only for those candidates who were appointed without any qualification or conditions imposed by any Court of Law to the effect that their appointment would be subject to final outcome of the case which might have had been instituted by them and such candidates were in regular employment without any disqualification and were appointed in pursuance of a notice of advertisement where B.Ed. was stipulated to be valid qualification. Services of only such candidates shall not be disturbed because of this judgment. We make it clear that this benefit is only for the candidates who were appointed prior to the date our judgment was delivered, on 11th August, 2023. Mere selection of such candidates or their participation in the process will not entitle them for a benefit under our present order. Moreover, the candidates having B.Ed. qualification whose appointments we are protecting in this judgment, will have to undergo a bridge course and we direct the educational authorities to device such course, which would be applicable for each state and union territory, within a period of one year from today. This course shall be only for those appointees who have been engaged with B.Ed. degree only in the subject-posts under conditions stipulated in the earlier part of this order. National Council for Teacher Education shall design such course under overall supervision of the Ministry of Education, Union of India. Upon formulation of such course, the same shall be publicly notified and a timeframe shall also be given within which the respective candidates shall participate therein. Failure of any candidate to participate and complete the course within the timeframe to be given by the concerned educational authorities will invalidate the appointment of such candidate.

We also make it clear that the directions contained in this order shall not be confined to the applicant state only and shall cover all cases which may be pending in different judicial fora in any State or Union territory on the same point of law. The present application stands disposed of in the above terms. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of.