Core players and where they stand

NCTE
The norms are very clear. 50% minimum percentage in graduation, all streams are permitted for BEd and Distance learning BEd open only to in-service teachers with two years of work experience.

State Govts
Have varied norms for both eligibility and streams.

Uniformity in regulatory norms is the bear minimum need in teaching profession

Status quo
The arrival of National Council for Teacher’s Education (NCTE) is supposed to have heralded an era of high quality teachers education. But the policy regime appears not to change at all.

Even with respect to the recent Teachers Eligibility Test, the initial notification did not include Commerce graduates, despite Commerce being one of the core subjects taught in schools. Even Jamia from where two Chairmen of NCTE came, does not allow commerce students to appear for BEd.

The anomaly between local universities and NCTE standards is a cause for concern. It is a pity that many colleges consider teachers training in Commerce as a non-essential feature. The minimum percentage too must be made uniform. In a nation where diverse sections of the population have been treated differently with respect to minimum eligibility what must be taken care is that equality of opportunity is available to all.

When will the States accept the national standard, despite the Supreme Court affirming the right of the Parliament to make laws for the whole nation, especially when it comes to issues like education that are on the Concurrent list of the Constitution?