M A I N   N E W S

TEACHER TRAINING
SC formulates rules to check exploitation
R Sedhuraman
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, January 11
The Supreme Court has laid down 18 stringent parameters for regulating the teacher training institutes across the country as such institutions have been “brazenly exploiting” the candidates seeking admission for three decades and the regulatory bodies “have failed to stem the rot.”

In a 105-page judgment, a Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly pointed out that this had become necessary as high courts and the SC had been flooded with cases filed by these institutes, showing that the implementation of the regulations framed under the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 “has been acutely deficient” and objectives of the law “have not been fulfilled so far.”

The SC ruled that the Regional Committees should give due weightage to the recommendations of the respective state government or UT administration while granting recognition which would only have prospective effect. The recognition could be withdrawn for violation of the provisions of the Act, rules or regulations and this would become effective from the end of the academic session. “While granting affiliation, the examining body shall be free to demand rigorous compliance of the conditions contained in the statute like the University Act or the State Education Board Act,” the SC held in the verdict, written by Justice Singhvi.

Pointing out that the importance of teachers and their training had been highlighted time and again by eminent educationists and leaders of society, the apex court ruled that no institution could admit any student to a teacher training course or programme unless it had obtained recognition under Section 14 or permission under Section 15 of the Act.

The students admitted by the unrecognised institutions or by the recognised institutes without proper entrance/eligibility test “are not entitled” to appear in the examination conducted by the examining body or any other authorised agency.

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) “shall issue direction for mandatory inspection of recognised institutions on periodical basis and all the Regional Committees are duty bound to take action in accordance with those directions.”