Scrapping of BEd from DMCTE : Student bodies point fingers at Govt inaction
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 04 2020: Irked by the removal of Bachelor of Education (BEd) course from Dhanamanjuri College of Teachers' Education (DMCTE), six student bodies of the State, namely AMSU, MSF, DESAM, KSA, SUK and AIMS have blamed the State Government's inaction and negligence for the mess.

Speaking to media persons at MSF office, Kwakeithel today, KSA president Ningthoujam Chetan said that the decision to remove the BEd course from DMCTE from the 2020-21 session was taken during the 280th meeting of the National Council of Teachers' Education (NCTE) Eastern Region Committee (ERC) which was held at Bhubaneshwar on February 29 and March 1 .

Scrapping of BEd from DMCTE : Student bodies point fingers at Govt inaction

On the first day of the meeting, lack of faculty in DMCTE resulted in the intake seat capacity being reduced from the original 150 to 100.However, the worst came the next day of the meeting, when the meeting decided that the institution has appointed part time teachers which is not permissible per NCTE Regulations 2014 and removed BEd course from the next academic session of the institution under the provisions of Section 17 (1) of the NCTE Act, 1993, Chetan informed, adding that NCTE even sent show cause notice regarding the same to DMCTE.

He then lamented that for quite some time, the student bodies and various CSOs have been pressuring the authorities concerned to fill up the vacant posts of teachers but now, the more important question is why part time teachers were engaged by violating the rules.

Pointing out that the Draft National Education Policy 2019 made it clear that those who are not properly trained cannot be engaged as teachers, Chetan expressed disappointment that now, BEd course has been taken away from the sole college of the State where aspiring individuals go to train as teachers.

In a few years from now, Manipur will not have even a single properly trained teacher who can match the standards of those from other States or region, Chetan said, adding that the student unions all agree on one thing, which is the State Government's inaction and utter negligence are the main cause for this disappointing development.

The State Government must do what it can to ensure that BEd course is brought back to the college within two days and it must make the process public for all to see, he demanded.

The student bodies will not remain silent if the authorities remain silent, he warned.

AMSU president Peter Laishram, MSF president Sajad Buiyamayum, DESAM president Nameirakpam Edison, SUK president Dhanakumar Ningthouja and AIMS president Khumujam Romen were also present during the meet.