B.Ed holders not eligible to become primary school teachers: Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court said that B.Ed students are not eligible to become primary school teachers. In 2018, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) announced that B.Ed graduates can also become primary school teachers. The Supreme Court upheld the judgment of the Rajasthan High Court quashing this action.

A bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia clarified that B.Ed is not a qualification to teach classes one to five at the primary level. A petition filed by the Central Government challenging the judgment of the Rajasthan High Court was dismissed. According to the NCTE system itself, the Supreme Court held that Diploma in Elementary Education is the essential qualification to become a primary school teacher.

Supreme Court's observation

NCT's mandate that B.Eds can also become primary school teachers is illogical

Against the objectives of the Right to Education Act. The aim of the Act is not only to provide free and compulsory but also quality education.

Diploma in Elementary Education trains to handle primary-level children.

B.Eds are trained to teach secondary and higher secondary level children.