No to 4-year BA, BEd, BSc BEd courses

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 4

Private universities and colleges in Himachal will not be able to start “four-year integrated BA, BEd and BSc BEd courses” introduced by National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE). The state government has decided “not to allow” any university or institution to start these courses under the present scenario.

Additional Chief Secretary (Education) PC Dhiman has directed Himachal Pradesh University, which is an affiliating body for private colleges, to take necessary action in this regard and comply with the orders of the government.

In view of mushrooming of BEd colleges in the state and more than 50 per cent seats lying vacant, the government had decided last year “not to allow any new BEd college in the state or increase seat capacity”. The decision of the government is in line with its previous order.

This year also more than 6,600 seats out of 8,900 seats remained vacant in 72 private colleges after counselling. The condition of minimum 35 marks in entrance test was relaxed. Even after allowing BEd colleges to admit the candidates who did not appear in the entrance test, the seats have not been filled.

The academic session has already started and the university is still continuing with the counselling process. The same would be held on December 11 and 12.

The NTCE has laid down the condition of minimum 200 academic days in the year, excluding vacations and examination days under the two-year BEd course but the government and Himachal Pradesh University have shown utter disregard to the guidelines and directions of the apex regulatory body for teacher education.

The NCTE had also reduced the number of students in one unit from 100 to 50 and with course duration being increased from one year to two years.

The high fee structure, long duration of two years for B.Ed. courses and dim job opportunities are driving the students away from pursuing B.Ed courses but the government was still unwilling to cut the intake of students in BEd, said a Principal of a Private BEd college on condition of anonymity.