NCTE relief for those having BEd special education degree

PATNA: Giving a major relief to the candidates having a degree in BEd special education, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has notified that they can now become teachers for classes I to V in elementary schools.
In a gazette notification issued by the NCTE a couple of days back, candidates who have acquired the qualification of three-year integrated BEd-MEd from any NCTE-recognised institution shall be considered for appointment as a teacher in classes I to V.
However, a person so appointed as a teacher shall mandatorily undergo a six-month bridge course in elementary education recognised by the NCTE, within two years of such appointment as primary teacher.
Earlier, candidates having BEd special education degree were entitled to become teachers only for classes VI to VIII as per NCTE guidelines.
Patna University senate member and expert on inclusive education, Kumar Sanjeev, said the B Ed special education degree should be recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and not necessarily from NCTE.
He pointed out that the inclusive education policy was implemented in all elementary schools of the state in 2006 under which both normal (general), as well as physically challenged children, are receiving education under one roof so that there is no discrimination against the physically challenged children.
He said special educators would now get an opportunity of teaching in 80,000 government schools in the state. He urged the state government to allow special educators to appear in the teachers’ eligibility test.