Answer queries on teacher training institutes:HC to NCTE,TNTEU

Observing that teaching quality in Tamil Nadu has become poor due to commercialisation of education, the Madras High Court today directed the NCTE and Tamil Nadu Teacher Education University to answer a series of queries on teacher training institutes in the state.
Justice N Kirubakaran gave the directions to the southern regional committee of National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and Tamil Nadu Teacher Education University on a petition filed by Tiruchirapalli based SVI College of Education, which challenged denial of permission to expand student intake for its B.Ed and M.Ed courses.
The Court suo motu impleaded NCTE and TNTEU and directed them to answer its queries at the next hearing onMarch 27.

NCTE had issued a notice to the college, saying its application would be rejected if it insisted on permission for both courses.
Observing that quality of teaching in Tamil Nadu has become poor due to commercialisation of education, the judge said, "The standard of teachers is so poor that even students studying in fifth standard are unable to write their names."
Attributing the situation to 'letterpad teacher training' centres, he said "The reason for this situation is that many present day teachers themselves got diplomas and degrees from letterpad teacher training institutes without any infrastructure and regular classes."

"It is a bitter reality that even the state government is not bothered about large the number of institutions being permitted to function by NCTE's southern unit," he said.

The court then directed NCTE to submit details of the number of teacher training institutes, unemployed teacher training graduates and diploma holders in the state, and specify whether so many teacher training institutes were needed.
"The standard and calibre of many teachers in Tamil Nadu is very low and they are incapable of teaching students properly taking the education level to rock bottom and the students are unable to compete with students from other states," he added.