Core committee for training, re-training of teachers to be set up

Updated on: Monday, July 26, 2010

In order to ensure active participation of all Universities in a massive process of training, re-training and continuous capacity-building of teachers, HRD Ministry's Higher Education Department has constituted a Core Committee of Vice-Chancellors to evolve effective and unconventional strategies for scaling up teacher training.

This was stated by Prof V N Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in the monthly publication 'OPEN LETTER' of the University.

In the context of the Right to Education Act, a time-bound action plan is being formulated jointly by the National Council of Teacher Education(NCTE), IGNOU and State Education Departments to achieve targets, he said.

IGNOU has set up five Institutes of Competency Advancement of Teachers (ICAT) in the five geographic region of the country.

Technology-enhanced distance learning and the flexible open university practices are the approaches being adopted in these institutes. Such approaches are extensively and successfully used all over the world, both in the developed and highly populated developing countries.

Delivery of programmes, wholly or partially, through the flexible, distance learning mode, can alleviate shortages by eliminating or reducing the time and expenses invested in conventional college-based courses and also by making teacher trainees available earlier for service in the classrooms, Prof Pillai stated.

''Innovative approaches in the distance learning mode such as high-quality, self instructional multimedia and online materials and well-designed leaner support systems for practicals and project work, can really reduce the deficit in training and retaining capacity of our country,'' he said.

Learner-friendliness and flexibility are the attractive features of the open university and distance education systems. Facilitation of teaching-integrated learning for working teachers, by way of self-help faculty improvement modules, can also be achieved by distance education strategies, he added.

Core committee for training, re-training of teachers to be set up

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