TURA: Following withdrawal of recognition of the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) course at the College of Teacher Education in Rongkhon, Tura, by the National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) for its failure to comply with several guidelines, the Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) has urged upon Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to urgently look into the matter so that the courses can be restored at the earliest.
In a memorandum submitted to the chief minister, the GSMC expressed concern that the ‘abrupt’ order of de-recognition would seriously impact hundreds of students looking forward to take up the B.Ed course.
“This is the oldest and only government-run institute providing this course in the entire Garo Hills region. A bleak future is staring the teachers and students of B.Ed including the admission process for the current 2020 session. We urge upon the government to step in and restore the college and its course for the interest of the student community and teachers fraternity of Garo Hills,” urged GSMC chairman Nikman Ch Marak.
The GSMC has also asked the government to look into the problems of the B.Ed college and ensure adequate buildings and infrastructure are put in place alongside qualified teachers and staff.
The NCTE, in its order withdrawing the B.Ed course for the next academic session of 2020-21, had put out three crucial points for the decision to stop the course at the College of Teachers Education in Rongkhon, Tura.
It mentioned that the list of teaching faculty list was not in the NCTE-prescribed proforma and not duly approved by the concerned affiliating body.
The building plan and the building completion certificates duly signed by the competent authorities were also not submitted.
Under the new NCTE guidelines, all B.Ed courses are to be integrated into a four-year course beginning at the degree-level itself. In place of the previous system of two-year B.Ed course after graduation, the new system envisages a direct BA-B.Ed and B.Sc-B.Ed four-year course after Class 12.
The Tura Don Bosco College, which also runs its own B.Ed college, has also closed down its two-year course to pave the way for the start of the four-year integration course.