THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The B.Ed course will now be of three types. The duration of the course will be four years for those who have passed Plus Two, two years for graduates, and one year for those who have completed a postgraduate degree or a four-year degree.

Institutions cannot be run as just B.Ed colleges. B.Ed course will be offered in colleges that teach various subjects like Arts and Sciences. One can get a degree and a B.Ed simultaneously. Higher education can be in a degree subject or M.Ed. There will be an entrance exam for B.Ed. Such reforms are in the draft policy published by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). Once the final policy is notified in May, it will have to be implemented in Kerala as well. The current two-year B.Ed can continue in the existing teacher training institutes. These should become multidisciplinary by 2028. States will have the power to make 30% changes in the national syllabus.

The one-year M.Ed (full-time), which was discontinued ten years ago, will be restored. The course will have 40 credits in two semesters. There will also be a two-year part-time M.Ed. Admission will be for current teachers. Classes will be 20 days a month. Currently, M.Ed is two years.

Arts and Science degree along with four-year course

The four-year course is called Integrated Teacher Education Program. BA, BSc, BCom studies are part of this. Students can choose any subject. If they do not want B.Ed after three years, they can complete their studies by completing a degree. After completing four years of study, they can pursue higher studies in the degree subject or education. There are also dual major courses in Physical Education, Sanskrit, and Yoga. PG can be taken in either subject.

Option in Syllabus too

• The syllabus for the three-level B.Ed has been set according to the job sector.
• Students can take 'Foundation' option to become a teacher from LKG to class 2, 'Preparatory' for classes 3 to 5, 'Middle' for classes 6 to 8, and 'Secondary' for classes 9 to 12. There will be differences in the syllabus and the method of study.

Fees to increase

The fee for a four-year B.Ed is Rs. 1.5 lakh at Kozhikode NIT and Rs. 3.5 lakh at Kasaragod Central University.

Beneficial for foreign jobs

• A four-year B.Ed is beneficial for foreign jobs. This is the practice in most places including Europe.
• Teachers, including in pre-primary classes, will be graduates. The quality of teaching will increase.

B.Ed Colleges in Kerala: 188

B.Ed Seats: 16000

''Changes including four-year B.Ed are beneficial for children. B.Ed centers should be maintained and quality should be improved''

-Prof. Mohan B. Menon

B.Ed Curriculum Committee Chairman