The students who want to pursue Bachelor of Education (BEd) would have to study for two years now as the University Grants Commission (UGC) and National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE) have issued directions to complete the course in two years duration instead of one year. The Sri Dev Suman Uttarakhand University has begun preparations to bring the change in the course. The university plans to conduct admission tests in June. The next academic session would be different for the 28 BEd colleges affiliated with the Sri Dev Suman Uttarakhand University.
So far, there used to be rush for the one-year course but due to the new directions; the course will be completed in two years. While the standard of education is expected rise, the number of students is expected to fall. Under the new course, the norms of the BEd institutions have also been changed, to meet which would not be an easy task for the institutions. The number of students has been decreased while number of teachers has been raised.
The university has begun preparations for new system with vice-chancellor Dr US Rawat directing university registrar in charge Hansraj Bisht to keep the syllabus ready by second week of May. The major changes include — provision for an institution to conduct only two sessions of 50 students each. A total of four semesters - two a year would be conducted in the two-year course. The teachers would have to be given training for 16 weeks in schools in stead of just 10-15 days as was the practice earlier. Every institution will need to have seven lecturers apart from the principal. The working days have been increased from 200 days to 220 days a year.