DESAM lists demands regarding Integrated Teacher Education Programme
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 03 2020: Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), being concerned with the growing uncertainties regarding "Teacher Education" in the State, has drawn the attention of the State Government to consider and fulfil 5 demands within 5 days.

DESAM, in a press statement, said that they have found that Manipur was not among the list of the States which would start 4-Year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) proposed by the National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE) .

4-Year Integrated Teacher Education Programme is a programme introduced by the Government to enhance the standard of education in the country by improving teachers education.

The State missed the list despite receiving a proposal from NCTE in January last year, due to 'irrelevant replies' from SCERT-Director and Principal Secretary, charged DESAM while pointing out there are lots of anomalies in the appointment of Principal of DM Collge of Teacher Education (DMCTE) and gross mismanagement.

Unhappy to see the State miss such a chance, DESAM demanded that the individual, who allegedly lacks merit of being a Principal but has been serving as the Principal-in-charge of DM College of Teacher Education, be sent back to his original college.

The body urged all concerned to initiate due process to appoint regular Principals for DMCTE and Hindi Teacher's Training College (HTTC) and to assign Director, Higher and Technical Education as interim caretaker.

DESAM also urged the Government to sort out model multidisciplinary colleges and ensure the Principals are prepared to open up Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) under National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE).

DESAM also demanded that the State Cabinet should take a clear cut decision and send proposals to NCTE so that the ITEP is started in the State from the first phase onwards."The Government should also do the needful to get DMCTE listed in MHRD's 'Model TEI' .

If these demands are not addressed within 5 days, DESAM members are all set to shut administration blocks of DMCTE and HTTC and the office of the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education for the anti-India, anti-Modi, anti-quality education and anti-teacher education attitude of the Government, the statement continued.

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