NEW DELHI: In a major shift, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) is all set to reintroduce the one-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) and Master of Education (M.Ed) programmes, beginning 2026-27 academic year.
The courses will be revived after a gap of nearly ten years after those were extended to two years, with an aim to create an efficient pathway for aspiring educators.
This initiative is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the University Grants Commission’s National Higher Education Qualifications Framework.
“Before 2014, the one-year B.Ed and M.Ed courses were the cornerstone of teacher education. This revival is influenced by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. With the NEP, the UGC introduced the National Higher Education Qualifications Framework, which allows for a one-year master’s degree at level 6.5,” NCTE Chairman Pankaj Arora said.
The one-year M.Ed programme will be offered as a full-time course, while a part-time two-year option will cater to professionals such as teachers and education leaders.
“The two-year M.Ed programme initiated in 2015 has not significantly advanced teacher education or fostered a passion for teaching among young students. Many institutions faced empty seats, and the curriculum fell short of necessary improvements. The M.Ed course will incorporate both a research element and hands-on community engagement tasks,” Arora explained.
Eligibility criteria
To enrol for one-year B.Ed programme, candidates must hold a four-year undergraduate or a postgraduate qualification. For those with a three-year undergraduate degree can pursue two-year B.Ed programme.
“Each of these pathways is tailored for different individuals…anyone at any point wishing to enter teaching should have access to the right program. These programmes will feature four specialisations in accordance with the new school education framework under the NEP – foundational, preparatory, middle, and secondary school levels,” Arora said.
This change introduced new modules such as yoga education and gender studies, along with a 20-week internship.
The revival of the one-year B.Ed and M.Ed programmes is not intended to replace the two-year versions but to provide additional flexibility and options for those pursuing careers in education.
The Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP), a four-year course launched in 2023-24, will become a regular course, starting 2025-26 academic year. This programme will offer specialisations in yoga, physical education, sanskrit education, and art education.
“If someone decides after high school that they want to teach, there’s ITEP. If they make that choice after three years of college, they can opt for a two-year B.Ed. For those completing a postgraduate or four-year graduation programme, a one-year B.Ed is available,” Arora said.