First launched by DU, NCTE now proposes to discontinue 4-year B.El.Ed programme by 2026

The draft regulations said institutions that have been granted recognition for the B.El.Ed. program shall continue, and they are allowed to enroll students subject to the condition that they shall transition to the new Integrated Teacher Education program before the start of the 2026–27 academic session.

The last time the National Common Entrance Test issued rules that specified the norms and standards for teacher education programs was in 2014. The 2014 regulations said that B.EL.ED offered a professional degree after class 12th, the elementary stage of education preparing teachers for classes 1st to 8th. Delhi University launched it in the 1994-95 academic year, and the NCTE first notified regulations for the B.El.Ed. program in 1999.

Integrated Teacher Education Programmes (ITEP) is a four-year program (BA B.Ed/B.Sc. B.Ed/B.Com. B.Ed) after class 12th. The 2023-24 a few institutions, which launched this program in pilot mode from the academic session onwards, will be no longer in pilot mode and will be offered for teacher education from as a regular program the 2025-26 session onwards and will have four specializations such as yoga, physical education, Sanskrit education, and art education.

The draft rules also provide for one-year B.Ed. and M.Ed. programs. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the National Common Entrance Test (NCET) for Integrated Teacher Education Programmes (ITEP). The draft rules specify that admissions to the B.Ed. and M.Ed. programs will also be through a subject and test conducted by the NTA."

Admissions to B.Ed. and M.Ed. courses in central universities are currently the CUET-UG and CUET-PG, conducted by the NTA. Arora said that the kinds of the tests for B.Ed. and M.Ed.—whether they will be in line with the CUET or separate tests altogether—are yet to be worked out. “It will be a nationwide test through the NTA. We have not decided on any entrance examination. It is under conversation, and the manner will be worked out soon. Under these regulations, admissions will take place in 2026.

Integrated teacher education programs are a key feature of the draft regulations. If any institution wants to offer a higher B.ED. education, of course, it must already offer ITEP or must run ITEP by 2030.

NEP 2020 states: The minimum degree qualification for teaching will be a 4-year integrated B.Ed. degree that teaches a range of theoretical knowledge content and includes strong practical skills training in the form of student teaching at local schools.”

Arora added that the policy mandate is that ITEP will be the prominent teacher education program by 2030. So, if the institution offers ITEP, it can offer other teacher education programs.”

“Curriculum design has always been the most important role of the university. This ITEP takes away the autonomy of the university, threatening the preparation of teachers How then are teachers expected to teach in various classrooms in reality in India? The ITEP claims to be integrated. It is a 4-year model, with three years of graduation and one year of education within a colonial frame. This was what the B.El.Ed program. changed successfully. Why close it then?” she added.