NCTE Regulations 2014: Highlights

NCTE completed and notified the revised Regulations 2014, along with Norms and Standards for 15 programmes on November 28, 2014 under Government of India Gazette Notification No.346 (F.No. 51-1/2014/NCTE/N&S) by following the recommendations of the Justice Verma Commission (JVC) appointed by the Government at the instance of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The JVC had suggested wide range reforms in Teacher Education which the new Regulations 2014 have addressed. The new Regulations are an outcome of wider consultations with stakeholders undertaken by NCTE.

The important highlights of Regulations 2014 are as under:

a. A wide basket with 15 programmes is on offer, recognising for the first time three new programmes – 4-year B.A/B.Sc. B.Ed., 3-year B.Ed. (Part-time), and 3-year B.Ed.-M.Ed. programme.
b. The duration of three programmes – B.Ed., B.P.Ed., M.Ed. – has been increased to two years, providing more professional rigour and at par with best international standards.
c. Henceforth, in place of stand-alone institutions, teacher education shall be established in composite institutions (multi-disciplinary or multi-teacher education programmes).
d. Each programme curriculum comprises three components – theory, practicum, internship; and at least 25% of the programme is developed to school-based activities and internship.
e. ICT, Yoga Education, Gender and Disability/Inclusive Education are integral part of each programme curriculum.
f. More integrated teacher education programmes are encouraged.
g. The teacher educator M.Ed. Degree comes with specialization in either Elementary Education or in Secondary/Senior Secondary Education.
h. Open and Distance Learning (ODL) has become more rigorous with built-in quality assurance mechanisms.
i. In-service teachers have more option to acquire higher TE qualifications—DElEd (ODL), B.Ed. (ODL), B.Ed. (Part-Time).
j. NOC from affiliating university/body is mandatory while making an application.
k. Provision of application, payment of fees, visiting team reports, etc. online. Centralized computerized visiting team for transparent use by both HQs and Regional Committees for inspection/monitoring. (For this, E-Governance is in the process of finalization).
l. Each teacher education institution to have compulsory accreditation in every 5 years from an accrediting agency recognized by NCTE. (An MoU has already been signed with NAAC in this regard).