The future of teacher education lies with Integrated Teacher Education Programmes (ITEP), as recommended by NEP(2020), which is a flagship programme of Government of India. This course will be launched from the session 2023-24 in 41 institutions of Central and state universitiesof India viz-a-viz B.A.- B.Ed., B.Sc.-B.Ed. and B.Com.- B.Ed( post NEP 2020) and also the admission process will be undertaken by the National Testing Agency (NTA) said by Ms. KesangYangzom Sherpa (IRS), Member Secretary, National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) New Delhi , who was the chief guest of the symposium on the theme ‘ Expectations related to changes in the regulatory and curricular aspects of teacher education programmes under NEP-2020organized by department of education.
Guru Nanak Dev University has taken a lead to implement all the courses offered by NCTE (A regulatory body)under the able and dynamic leadership of Prof. (Dr.) Jaspal Singh Sandhu.Ms. KesangYangzom Sherpa also said that these ITEP programmes are altogether different from the existing B.A.- B.Ed. and B.Sc.-B.Ed. programmes being run by the colleges in terms of admissions, curriculum and evaluation process. The existing B.A.- B.Ed.and B.Sc.-B.Ed. programmes also have to be converted into ITEP courses (B.A.- B.Ed., B.Sc.-B.Ed. and B.Com.- B.Ed post NEP 2020).
Prof. (Dr.) Deepa Sikand, Dean, Faculty of Education of the University welcomed the chief guest, Ms. KesangYangzomSherpa, Sh. Anil Kumar Convener, 4 year B.Ed. (Yoga), NCTE ,Mr. Abhimanyu Yadav, convener, National Mission for Mentoring, NCTE, Sh. Dinesh Kumar Chaturvedi, Nodal Officer,NEP, NCTE, Prof. Sarabjot Singh Behl, Dean Academic Affair (DAA) of University, Amritsar, and other dignitaries. Prof. Deepa detailed that for effective implementation of NEP(2020), Guru Nanak Dev University,a multidisciplinary university is the first and only state university in north India to have got approval to launch Integrated Teacher Education Programmes (ITEP) viz-a-viz B.A.- B.Ed., B.Sc.-B.Ed. and B.Com.- B.Ed for secondary stage teachers from the session 2023-24 with an intake capacity of 50 seats in each course.
Prof. Sarabjot Singh Behl, delivered the inagural address. He focused that the objective of the universities should be on creating capacities and individuals with critical thinking for a strong and vibrant education system.
He very rightly remarked, “Education building is designing the educators”. Further, he added that ITEP courses would definitely help to focus on multidisciplinary environment and holistic development in the higher education students.
The NCTE officials were apprised of the university efforts to implement NEP-2020 in the right spirit which includes initiation of four year under graduation courses with multiple entry and exitprogrammes, value added courses, skill enhancement abilities, Academic Bank of Credits ,One year Post graduate Degree , etc. Prof Behl also appreciated the initiative of Department of Education to start a mandatory course in andragogy for research scholars of all the departments.
Prof (Dr.) Amit Kauts, Head, Department of Education shared the concept note of the symposiumwith the distinguished guests and also emhasized that changes in the regulatory and curricular aspects will provide a comprehensive, integrated approach to teacher education, combining theoretical knowledge and practical experience to produce well-rounded, competent teachers.
Setting the pace of the Symposium, Prof. Kauts highlighted the challenges and issues in the field of teacher education.With the start of ITEP in the university, Prof. Kauts stressed how department of education aims to develop an environment of interaction among various faculties for utilizing services for imparting disciplinary knowledge to students.
And, also for having workshops of subject teachers for developingpedagogical, interactive and collaborative skills which will help to improve quality of education in the university.The chief guest, Ms. KesangYangzomSherpa , Member Secretary, National Council for Teacher Education while conducting the interaction meet with the attendees talked about the modalities for effective implementation of integrated courses in teacher education.
She expressed her concern about the various challenges, one of them being the gap between disciplinary knowledge and pedagogical concerns. Further, she added that the prime focus at this juncture should be to make discipline an internal part of the training to achieve successful amalgamation.
Prof. (Dr.) Deepa Sikand, Dean, Faculty of Education concluded the symposium with the remarks that changes in the regulatory and curricular aspects of teacher education programmes under NEP-2020 would heap to raise the quality of teacher education which would in turn bring about improvement in school education.
She also expressed her gratitude to the Chief guest for enlightening the attendees with her expertise and vast plethora of knowledge.