Teacher Training: Deemed university on paper, NITTTRs lose ground as AICTE, MMTTCs muscle in on domain

Two years ago, the four National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR) became deemed-to-be universities in the “distinct category”. While awarding them that status, the education ministry promised it would help create “champion teachers, internationalisation of teachers' training and reimagine vocational education; and create future-ready faculty”. But five years of records show a steady decrease in the number of teachers trained.

In 2020-21, the four institutes had trained 1,02,667 teachers, with NITTTR Chandigarh doing most of the heavy-lifting with Kolkata a distant second. In 2024-25, the count stood at 87,998 and it was even lower in the intervening years. Senior officials with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) , which regulates the courses run by these institutes, say that they have “been training very less faculty”.

Over the years the funds allocated to NITTTRs have fluctuated widely and in 2023-24, the actual spending stood at a mere Rs 100.50 crore – lowest in seven years – against a budget allocation of Rs 150 crore.

NITTTRs are autonomous institutions under the ministry of education and located at Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai and Kolkata. While budgets and training counts remain poor, the new status has enabled the institutes to launch degree and research programmes, start online courses and allow credit transfers across programmes.

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NITTR Chandigarh, Bhopal, Chennai, Kolkata

The NITTTRs’ primary mandate is to elevate the standards of technical education through strategic interventions, capacity-building initiatives , and the development of innovative pedagogical resources. The institute designs and delivers need-based professional development programmes tailored for faculty and staff of engineering colleges, polytechnics, vocational institutions , and other technical training entities.

The NITTTRs also operate 10 extension centres between them for teachers training, curriculum development and related academic support.

NITTTR Chandigarh does not have extension centres.

The institutes also engage in curriculum development , research and development, instructional resources and consultancy.

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Teacher Training: NITTTR budgets and revenues

The NITTTRs spent less than they were allocated over several years; spending rose after they earned the deemed-to-be university tag .

Source: Budget document and parliament questions

After 2024-25, when it was given the deemed-to-be university tag, the expenditure incurred has been higher. But with it has also come another worry.

A director at one of the NITTTRs said, “Though it isn't written anywhere but once you are given the deemed-to-be-university status, it is expected that you float programmes which can generate revenue. We can look at it as a positive side effect, some kind of output will be expected from you.”

Even between the four institutes, there are wide variations in allocations. NITTTR Kolkata’s budget is around half that of other institutes.

Source: Parliament answers

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The AICTE factor, few trainees

Most worryingly, the NITTTRs are struggling to perform their core function – training teachers. The number of teachers trained has declined with 2023-24 recording the lowest over the past five years.

A former AICTE official remarked, “As per their capacity, these institutes are training very, very less teachers. They should be encouraged to expand their capacity.” The numbers trained are shown in the table.

Source: Parliament answers

A look at the individual institute further shows that NITTTR Bhopal receiving the highest budget allocation among others, their numbers have remained small.

Their collective record would have been even more appalling without NITTTR Chandigarh, which has posted five-digit numbers each year. Interestingly, the runner-up is NITTTR Kolkata which made its paltry funds stretch to cover over 15,600 trainees in 2020-21.

In 2024-25, NITTTR Bhopal trained 6,122 teachers with a Rs 58.33-crore budget; that was only a little higher than NITTTR Kolkata, which trained 5,950 teachers with half the outlay.

Source: Parliament Answers

“It depends on the kind of courses and who the potential participants are. It is important to align courses with the new things that come up. We really have to be very quick and good at adapting to changes,” said a senior official at NITTTR Chandigarh.

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According to an official, the other factor which has affected the number of teachers that NITTTR has been training is the AICTE itself taking on the job of capacity building.

“A few years back, when one of the directors from NITTTR went to the AICTE, they started conducting faculty development programmes. The faculty from NITTTR were mainly the ones conducting the training but it used to be conducted in the premises of private universities but funded by the regulatory bodies. Any faculty would choose AICTE over NITTTR,” said the official on condition of anonymity.

The other reason is the Malviya Mission Scheme Teachers Training Centres (MMTTC).

“Once this scheme was started, most universities now have the MMTTC centres, which are mandated to provide teachers training. Earlier, since NITTTR was an institution and affiliated to other universities, we did not get to become centres. Now we have become a university, we should also be allowed," added the official.

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NITTTR new courses: PG diploma, PhD

However, becoming a deemed university has allowed the NITTTRs to start various postgraduate, PhD and diploma courses. They are also developing e-content on teacher education under the SWAYAM platform. The institute also allows credits earned through NITTT modules to be transferred towards an MTech in engineering education offered by the university.

In 2024 NITTTR Bhopal started admission for PhD candidates. It has also now launched several MSc and MTech programmes . The School of Management offers MBA programmes.

These courses are provided in fields such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, mechatronics, data science and host others.

NITTTR Chennai conducts Overseas Training Courses, sponsored by the ministry of external affairs, and works with developing nations, including those in Asia, East Europe, Central Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, as well as Pacific and Small Island countries. As per the annual report (2024-25), it has successfully conducted nine overseas training courses in the contact mode.

The Chandigarh NITTTR was earlier a designated research centre for Panjab University as well as for Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar and students would receive degrees from them. Now it awards degrees directly and has launched a BTech for working professionals which, an official said, has helped students from polytechnics.