Working group will look into teacher training programmes

Updated on: Friday, May 06, 2011

The issue of lack of special teachers in schools will soon be addressed by the ministry of human resource development (MHRD). The Planning Commission has decided to set up a working group on teacher education under the department of school education and literacy, MHRD, to formulate the twelfth five-year plan.

Besides addressing the issue of the lack of special educators, the group will look into teacher training programmes imparted across institutes in the country, which will include evolving information and communication technology (ICT) enabled classroom pedagogy, making teachers more target-oriented, rating teachers’ training institutes and even the private sector’s role in providing teacher education.

Adelaide Vaz, principal, Xavier’s Institute of Education, Churchgate, who is part of the committee and the only principal of a teacher training institute in the working group, said, “This year, the commission has probably separated the teacher training working group from the group on school education. It has asked members to look into several aspects of the teacher training programme in detail. The members are expected to evolve a clear programme for training in ICT-enabled classroom pedagogy and to make use of ICT in the teaching of all subjects.”

According to a former planning commission member, the condition of teacher training institutes in the country is very poor. Vaz said, “Schools are unable to detect students with learning disabilities or difficulties. Teachers have been labelling students as underperformers in classrooms. Even teaching programmes do not equip teachers in identifying such students.” The group’s report may be submitted by September 30, 2011.

Working group will look into teacher training programmes

More Education news