Who trains India’s teachers, and who ensures they are properly trained?

Ahead of Teachers' Day on September 5, the Supreme Court upheld the National Council for Teacher Education's power to require TEIs to submit annual Performance Appraisal Reports. This decision overturns a 2023 Delhi High Court ruling that deemed the 2019 requirement as illegal. The ruling comes amid concerns over the quality of teacher-training institutions. In West Bengal, the government issued show-cause notices to 450 B.Ed colleges following inspections that revealed significant shortcomings.

Teacher education institutions, or TEIs, encompass colleges, university departments, and other recognized institutions that provide professional programs for aspiring teachers, such as D.El.Ed, B.Ed, B.El.Ed, M.Ed, and integrated programs. The NCTE Act of 1993 mandates the Council to develop and maintain standards within the sector. Recognition from the NCTE is not a one-time process; TEIs must maintain standards through performance appraisal systems and ensure accountability.

The Performance Appraisal Report is a key mechanism for TEIs to submit information about their courses, faculty, enrollment, infrastructure, and functioning. There isn't a singular path to becoming a teacher. D.El.Ed is a two-year program for elementary school teachers, while B.Ed follows graduation for professional training. Integrated programs like B.El.Ed and new four-year ITEP combine subject study with teacher preparation. M.Ed is an advanced qualification for those specializing further in education.

The qualifications for teaching depend on the stage, with NCTE minimum standards for Classes I-VIII, including a Teacher Eligibility Test. Recruitment is managed by state governments or school systems. NEP 2020 aims to reshape teacher education by integrating it into multidisciplinary colleges and universities, making a four-year ITEP the minimum qualification for schoolteachers. The NEP also proposes stronger practicum training and action against substandard TEIs.