The Odisha Government has urged the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) seeking permission for admission into BEd and MEd courses in the State’s 15 Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) whose recognition was withdrawn last year.
In a letter to the NCTE Chairperson, State Higher Education Principal Secretary Saswat Mishra has requested to revoke the withdrawal recognition in order to enable the State Government to start BEd and MEd programmes in the TEIs from the current academic session 2021-22.
The recognition of the 15 State-run was withdrawn by the NCTE during the academic session 2020-21 on the ground of having less number of faculties than required.
Meanwhile, all the TEIs of Odisha have been transferred to the administrative control of Higher Education Department from the School & Mass Education Department with effect from June 1, 2021. “Before such transfer, the Higher Education Department on March 9, 2021, had submitted its requisition to Odisha Public Services Commission (OPSC) for recruitment of 385 Assistant Professors for TEIs on emergency basis. Though the OPSC has already taken up the recruitment process, it is getting delayed due to the pandemic,” Mishra has written to the NCTE.
Odisha is the only State which has the Government Teacher Training Institutions to cater to the needs of trained teachers for elementary, secondary and higher secondary educations and no TEIs are allowed for teachers training courses in the State.
“Due to withdrawal of recognition of these TEIs by the NCTE, it has become impossible to meet demand of the State for trained teachers,” the letter stated.
Mishra has sought necessary approval to engage the required number of guest faculties having essential qualification in all TEIs till regular recruitment by the OPSC and start courses from this academic session.
“Considering the shortfall in faculty positions, the 15 Teacher Education Institutions, whose recognition has been withdrawn, may be allowed to run the normal courses with reduced intake number of students vis-a-vis the sanctioned strength of faculties,” the letter added.