100 BEd students left in lurch as AMU's Bihar centre fails to get NCTE approval

AGRA: The fate of nearly 100 students pursuing BEd in Kishanganj centre of AMU in Bihar hangs in balance as the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) is yet approve the course.
According to officials, the first batch of BEd students passed out of the centre three years ago in 2014-15 but the NCTE, the central body mandated to oversee the standard and quality of teacher education, has yet not accorded it an approval.Officials said the second batch from the centre has also cleared the course recently, but there has been no word about its approval.
According to AMU authorities, the course was started in 2013 November and the university had applied for its recognition in May 2014. An inspection was conducted by the NCTE committee in March 2016, but they were not satisfied with the set up. Later, in April 2017, they rejected the appeal for recognition on the ground that there was no building completion certificate.
Talking to TOI, director of the Kishanganj centre Rashid Nehal admitted that the course is yet to be recognised by the NCTE. He said they are working on it and an approval would be received soon. He said they had already submitted the proposed building plans for the centre, but the same was not being accepted by NCTE.
He said, classes are being conducted in full-fledged building allotted by the state government and land has been allotted for the academic building but it will take time for its completion. He said Kishanganj has allocated Rs 136 crore for the same but Rs 10 crore has been released so far.
Member in charge of public relation department, AMU, Shaifai Kidwai said that the university had already notified in its admission forms that students desirous of taking admission at the centre should do it at their own risk. He said, since back date recognition can be given by NCTE, all efforts would be made to ensure that students do not face problems after completion of their courses.