As an initial step to the overhauling of education system in the Kerala state, the Kerala State Higher Education Council has set up a connoisseur committee who has successfully drafted a report. The report suggests a major change in the B.Ed courses offered in the state as to lend a hand to create a breed of humanitarian and proficient teachers in to the system.

Renovation in Education Methods

The longstanding education system in the state, which is often considered as prehistoric methods by scholars are finally coming together for a refurbish. The report bought out by the expert committee recommends many additions to the existing B.Ed course. The initial opinion from the side of the committee is to extend the duration of the course. The course must also be an integrated program and must have a full semester internship as a course curriculum. The B.Ed program must equip the candidates as to take up enhanced roles for general education in the knowledge sector.

Need for change in method

For ages, educationalist from all walks of life agrees that the 1 year long B.Ed program is insufficient to prepare and equip a candidate for teaching career in schools. The course duration will only suffice as to provide the B.Ed candidates with a miniscule of experience towards practical training. The course is seen by many as an in-rush course, which delivers course curriculum at breakneck speed and continuously strain the candidates with countless practical assignment and weighty theories.

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has recommended rising the duration of the course to two long years instead of the present one year course. This proposal is still in discussion mode. But in the mean time, there is a suggestion to submit a bridge deal until the actual proposal gets implemented.

NCTE

New Proposals

The Kerala State Higher Education Council has put forwarded three different models of teacher’s education of the Kerala state B.Ed course. The first proposal states that the B.Ed course should be moved to a one and a half year long with three semesters. The committee suggests that the first two semesters must be dedicated for a face to face teaching and learning process in the B.Ed and the last semester have to be devoted for the internship in various schools.

As per the schedule the model will be implemented in the year 2012 itself. As per the official report the two year long B.Ed course will commenced from 2015 onwards on a national wide. Most of the B.Ed courses are started from the November month onward. This will definitely create a problem for the scheduling the practical sections in various schools. Therefore, most of the B.Ed educators want the course to start from the month of June as to avoid this discomfort.

On the other hand, the Kerala state is given an option to select a customized edition of 2 year model. This model is also put forwarded by the NCTE. This is model will have 4 separate semesters and will have 60 credit in the program. This model can be presented from 2015onwards subsequent to putting in place all essential systemic pre-requisites.

The third replica recommended by the board is an Integrated B.Ed. course which is 4 ½ years long. This incorporated model will have 9 separate semesters of which the 1st six semesters will be done at a usual arts or science college. The final 3 semesters can be continued in a desires teacher education college. The report by the committee put forward that the 4 ½ year program will give the required time and length for an in-depth teacher education.

Specialties of the integrated B.Ed course

The integrated B.Ed course model will give a student who wants to be a teacher a clear understanding of the career choice. A student who desires to be a teacher can decide during the 4 ½ year long course, whether the teacher education is the destination after completing the three years. The students who opt to go for the teacher’s education can have natural progression to any B.Ed colleges. The candidates in the Integrated B.Ed are provided with groundwork of education along with field study during the initial 3 years itself. As per the reports the integrated B.Ed program will be instituted on or after the 2012-13 school years in various arts and science colleges.

Kerala State Higher Education Council has also put forward two new programs in the teacher’s education sector. The first one is the Bachelor of Secondary Education program and the second one is the Bachelor of Elementary Education program.

The Bachelors in secondary education program will be carried out for 4 ½ years and is targeted to the students who want to start their career in teaching secondary school. The basic eligibility to join the course will be 10+2. The students from commerce and humanities stream will have huge benefit with this course model. The main aim of the course is the Acquisition of various language competencies. The course will also provide importance for teaching career abroad and also teaching prospect in other language. One and the only drawback of the course is that the candidates will not be eligible to teach in the higher secondary classes with this degree.

The B.Ed elementary education will help the candidates to prepare themselves to each in the elementary classes. This program is expected to be a perfect mix of first degree program and teacher-education program. In this course also the importance is given more to language up gradation

Recommendation of HEC committee

The Education committee has also suggested a model for the professional development initiation of the future teachers in the system. The students who desire to join the Masters program for teaching higher secondary classes will have to complete a Post graduation program. The admission to M.Ed will be similar to the B.Ed, other than the qualification requirement.  The internship for the M.Ed candidates will only be in the higher secondary classes. The masters program is also being proposed to be offered as an integrated course with regular Post graduation program in the Arts and science colleges.

The Higher secondary education committee is at present anticipated to fund the project on a widespread regarding the drafted report. The proposal will only be in practice after the university level discussion and the college level discussion.