NEP-2020: B.Ed degree to be minimum requirement for teaching

SRINAGAR — The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has said that the minimum qualification for teaching will be a four-year integrated B.Ed degree.

The MHRD has also stated that the National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education (NCFTE) will be formulated by the NCTE in consultation with NCERT by 2030. This was stated by MHRD in the recently approved National Education Policy (NEP).

As per the NEP-2020, the MHRD has stated that in the long term, the minimal degree requirement for all permanent tenured teachers will be the four-year integrated B.Ed degree.

“However, to promote local knowledge and expertise, schools or school complexes will be permitted and indeed supported with suitable resources to hire local eminent persons or experts as specialized instructors in various subjects, such as traditional local arts, vocational crafts, entrepreneurship, agriculture, or any other subject where local expertise exists, and would benefit students and help preserve and promote local knowledge,” it reads.

In the NEP, it was mentioned that by 2030, the minimum degree qualification for teaching will be a four-year liberal integrated B.Ed degree that teaches a range of knowledge content and pedagogy, and includes strong practicum training in the form of student teaching at local schools.

“The two-year B.Ed will be intended only for those who have already obtained Bachelor’s Degrees in other specialized subjects,” it reads.

The MHRD in the NEP also said that these B.Ed programmes may also be replaced by suitably adapted to one-year B.Ed programmes for those who have completed the equivalent of four-year multidisciplinary bachelor’s degree or who have obtained a master’s degree in a specialty and wish to become a subject teacher in that specialty.

“All such B.Ed degrees would be offered only by accredited multidisciplinary higher educational institutions offering four-year integrated B.Ed programmes,” NEP reads.