Notice on plea against closure of D.El.Edu courses

directing the government counsel to inform the authorities concerned to abstain from precipitating the matter further, ordered notice returnable by June 5.

The association had contended that the state, in the pretext of restructuring the District Institute for Education and Training (DIET), curtailed pre-service training namely, Diploma in Teachers Education (D.T.Ed) now called as Diploma in Elementary Education programme (D.El.Ed) in 20 districts, through a Government Order issued on May 9. Also, the order confined the said courses to 10 districts with limited number of seats as approved.

The plea further contended that when the D.El.Ed course is closed in government-run DIET institutions in 20 districts, the students have no choice but to join private Teacher Training Institutes (TTIs) by paying higher fees or move to different districts to obtain a seat in government-run DIETs.

Noting that the GO virtually supports and strengthens private TTIs to augment more enrolment of students, the plea submitted that when the draft framework for implementation of the Integrated Scheme for School Education is pending with the Centre without any finalisation, there cannot be restructuring of DIETs by referring to such a draft framework.

On completion of the two-year D.El.Ed, professionals become eligible to work at elementary schools and similar educational institutes imparting elementary education.