TEACHER TRAINING AND RECRUITEMENT

Teacher training and recruitment: Sibal asks States to conform to central laws





The Centre has asked the West Bengal Government to conform to the regulations of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and the spirit of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act while recruiting primary teachers.





Though school education is the domain of State Governments, this central intervention has been made in view of the trouble being faced by the West Bengal Government after the Calcutta High Court declared courses run by Primary Teacher Training Institutes (PTTI) in the State as illegal due to lack of NCTE recognition.





Briefing mediapersons here, Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said the State Government invited applications from Class X pass-outs for recruitment as primary teachers at a time when the Centre and the West Bengal administration were working to soften the impact of the High Court judgement.





In view of the advertisement for recruitment of 58,000 primary teachers, the Minister has written to the West Bengal Government urging it to revisit its recruitment process and ensure that only persons possessing minimum qualifications as prescribed by the NCTE are recruited to avoid any future complication.





"We want and expect State Governments to cooperate with us by amending laws and bringing them in conformity with the central legislation," Mr. Sibal said; pointing out that the new recruitment drive by West Bengal may well be challenged in court given that it continues with the old regime that was declared illegal by the Calcutta High Court.





Giving details on the controversy, Mr. Sibal said PTTIs in West Bengal were offering one year Diploma in Education (D.Ed) to Class X pass students while the NCTE regulation mandates a two-year D.Ed programme for primary teachers. And, only students who have cleared Class XII with 50 per cent marks are eligible for the course. Hence, these PTTIs were not recognised by the NCTE.





As a result of the judgement, 31,141 persons were adversely affected. While some have been awarded diploma by the non-recognised PTTIs, others could not write the examination because of the Court injunction. In consultation with the State Government, the Centre has worked out three options to ensure that their career prospects are not affected.





The issue has been hanging fire for over a year now to the extent that Mr. Sibal had a couple of meetings with Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee; both of whom lead their respective parties in the State.

SOURCE;THE HINDU