LS passes NCTE amendment bill

The Lok Sabha today passed a bill to amend the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) Act seeking to provide post-facto approval to those approved institutions which are funded by the Centre or states, but do not have recognition under the 1993 law.

HRD Minister Prakash Javedekar said several state and central universities were running Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) and related courses, but do not have recognition.

Replying to the concerns raised by members, he said though the amendment was "small, but it rectifies a major error".

Seeking the support of the members to pass the measure, Javadekar said the legislation has been brought for the benefit of the students who have appeared for B.Ed, M.Ed and various other exams, but their institutes are not recognised.

There were also plans to start an integrated four-year B.A.-B.Ed, B.Sc.-B.Ed and B.Com-B.Ed courses so that those interested in teaching can choose this, rather than opting for the teaching profession as a last option, he said.

To ensure that insitutes offering B.Ed courses maintain quality, Javadekar said the ministry has asked them to submit affidavits recording the facilities they offer.

Of the 18,600 institutes, 8,700 submitted affidavits regarding this so far, he said.

Showcause notice were issues to 10,000 institutes, of which 3,700 submitted the affidavits and the overall figure of those submmiting the affidavits was around 12,000, the minister added.

To improve the quality of teachers, there will also be an induction programme for new recruits, Javadekar said.

Participating in the debate, Congress MP Deepender Hooda said the legislation was a welcome step and will be overall beneficial for the edcuation sector.

Hooda also raised the issue of Reliance Jio University which has been given the tag of Institute of Eminence.

"The university which is yet to be established has been given such prestigious status. Nothing is yet known about it," Hooda said.

BJP MP Virendra Kashyap emphasised on improving the quality of the teachers, while Shiromani Akali Dal's Prem Singh Chandumajra said teachers teaching in border and hilly areas should get more incentives.