Institute of distance and open learning way to get better trained teachers

With the demand for qualified teachers in schools increasing, the Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL) of Mumbai University, has planned to start a two-year course in Bachelor of

Education (BEd) and Master of Education (MEd) from the next academic year.  In 2006, IDOL started a two-year Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) course. According to officials, there are

around 80 colleges that provide BEd and MEd courses, however, around 60 private colleges have failed to impart quality education. In a recent Central Teacher Eligibility Test, only 37,472

cleared the exam out of 6.6 lakh candidates.  D Harichandan, director, IDOL, said, “The reason behind such a poor result is that students do not attend classes affecting the quality of

trained teachers. So, we decided to come up with BEd and MEd courses that would help students work as well study simultaneously.” Harichandan claims that the two courses have been accepted

by the advisory committee.But the pro vice chancellor, MU, Naresh Chandra, said, “The proposal has only been discussed in the advisory committee and needs to be approved by the National

Council for Teacher's Education.”