New Delhi: Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi has launched a six-month Certificate (Bridge) Course in Primary Teacher Education for eligible in-service primary teachers who were appointed with B.Ed qualifications.
The course is aimed at strengthening the pedagogical skills of teachers working at the primary level, with a focus on child-centered, inclusive and developmentally appropriate teaching practices.
“The initiative would strengthen the capabilities of teachers at the foundational and primary stages through a combination of academic learning, online instruction and practical school-based experience,” the minister said on Wednesday.
The program has been developed in accordance with the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) framework and it will be implemented through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).
Details
According to the NIOS framework, the six-month program will include:
- At least 20 days of school-based experience
- At least 10 days of online contact classes
- Academic inputs on primary-school education
- Training in age-appropriate pedagogy and assessment
- Understanding the developmental needs of primary-school children
- Strategies for addressing diversity in classrooms
The course is intended to help teachers adapt their existing professional knowledge to the specific pedagogical requirements of the foundational and primary stages.
The program has been introduced in the context of the Supreme Court directives issued in 2024 concerning B.Ed-qualified teachers appointed at the primary level.
NIOS has stated that the NCTE will design the course under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Education.
As per the NIOS framework, eligible teachers must complete the bridge course within the timeframe prescribed by the concerned educational authorities. Failure to complete it within the specified period will result in the appointment being rendered invalid.
The bridge course, however, will not be treated as a qualification for candidates seeking fresh employment as primary teachers.
The standard eligibility window covers in-service primary teachers appointed between June 28, 2018 and August 11, 2023, provided they hold a B.Ed degree.
Teachers appointed outside this period can register under the court-order category if they have obtained the required judicial relaxation.