In a move to bring about qualitative change in preparation of teachers for the school system and to impart best practices of teacher education in the world, the National Council for Teacher Education has come up with a four year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP).
The new programme by the Council is for candidates who wish to become teachers from pre-primary to primary level and for upper-primary to secondary level school.
The ITEP Arts and Science streams, which aim to prepare professionals, will be offered after senior secondary or intermediate education.
According to the gazette issued by the Union government making amendments to the National Council for Teacher Education (Recognition, Norms and Procedure) Regulations, 2014, the four-year integrated programme has been designed inculcating the world’s best practices in the field of teacher education.
The programme integrates general studies comprising mathematics and science, social sciences and humanities and also professional studies comprising perspectives in education, other core education courses and pedagogy of school subjects besides practicum related to tasks and functions of a school teacher. The new course would maintain a balance between theory and practice.
The curriculum and implementation of the programme would be based on the model curriculum developed by the Council. This apart, institutions offering the programmes can adapt or modify the model curriculum as per local requirements.
The four-year programme consists of eight semesters inclusive of field-based experience, teaching practice and internship. Candidates who are unable to clear any semester examination can complete within a maximum period of six years from the date of admission with approval of the managing committee.
Admission to the programme is based on the merit secured at senior secondary level or intermediate education or equivalent examination or any entrance examination. The candidates have to indicate the subject which they propose to take in the BA or BSc degree at the time of admission to the ITEP programme.
The fee for the new programme would be charged as prescribed by the affiliating body or State government or universities concerned in accordance with provisions of the NCTE.
Details for the programme are available on the website www.ncte-india.org.