Teacher Education in India: Need, Importance & Challenges

Table of contents

In the evolving landscape of 21st-century education, teachers are no longer mere content deliverers but mentors, facilitators, and nation-builders. The Draft NCTE Regulations 2025 propose to overhaul teacher education by discontinuing legacy programs like the B.El.Ed, triggering debates on retaining relevance vs adopting reform. As India strives to realise the goals of NEP 2020 and Viksit Bharat by 2047, reforming teacher education is not just timely but essential.

Teacher Education in India: Status

Indicator	Status
Single-Teacher Schools	Over 1.1 lakh schools operate with only one teacher, violating the RTE Act (2009) mandate.
Teacher Shortage	India needs 11 lakh additional teachers by 2030 to meet growing enrolment and learning goals. (UNESCO)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR)	Primary: 28:1, Upper Primary: 24:1, Secondary: 19:1 – mostly within RTE norms, but regional disparities persist.
Training Infrastructure	Over 18,000 Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) exist, but many suffer from poor quality, outdated pedagogy, and lack of practical training.

Importance of Robust Teacher Education

Foundational Literacy & Numeracy (FLN): Over 250 million children depend on well-trained teachers to achieve FLN by 2026-27 (NIPUN Bharat Mission).
Inclusive Pedagogy: Over 27% of Indian students come from socio-economically disadvantaged groups (NCERT), demanding teacher sensitisation.
Addressing Learning Gaps: Approximately 40% of students are first-generation learners (National Academy of Education).
Values & Ethics: Reflective teacher training enhances ethical, inclusive, and empathetic practices, crucial for shaping student behaviour and nation-building.

Changing Landscape of Teacher Education after NEP 2020

NEP 2020 Mandate: Introduces a four-year integrated B.Ed as the minimum qualification for teachers by 2030, replacing fragmented training models for stronger subject-pedagogy integration.
Rise of Digital Teacher Training: Over 70 lakh teachers trained through DIKSHA, SWAYAM, and NISHTHA, marking a shift toward EdTech-based, flexible, and self-paced learning ecosystems.
Globalisation of Pedagogy: A 31% rise in International Baccalaureate (IB) schools (2019–23) reflects growing demand for inquiry-based, globally relevant teaching competencies.
Draft NCTE Regulations 2025: Proposes discontinuation of B.El.Ed and revival of one-year B.Ed/M.Ed courses for lateral entry, sparking debate over flexibility vs. coherence in teacher education.
Multidisciplinary and Co-located TEIs: Highlights teacher training in multidisciplinary HEIs to promote collaborative learning and enhance synergy, aligning with the holistic vision of the NEP.

Challenges in Teacher Education in India

Quantity–Quality Paradox: India faces a shortage of 11 lakh teachers by 2030 (UNESCO), with 1.1 lakh+ single-teacher schools, undermining classroom effectiveness and violating RTE norms.
Substandard TEIs and Weak Regulation: As the Justice Verma Commission highlighted, many private TEIs operate with poor infrastructure, unqualified faculty, and lack real-time oversight.
Inadequate Practical Exposure: Student-teachers receive fewer than 16 weeks of internship, which limits their classroom readiness and experiential learning.
Pedagogical Obsolescence: Curricula in many TEIs still depend on rote methods, with little integration of critical thinking, multilingualism, and digital literacy tools (NITI Aayog).
Low Professional Status and Motivation: Teaching is not a favoured profession due to delayed recruitments, inadequate remuneration, and a lack of professional autonomy (ASER Report).

Government Initiatives and Reforms in Teacher Education

Initiative	Objective
PMMMNMTT	Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers & Teaching: Attract talent, enhance faculty development, and elevate teaching standards.
NCTE	National Council for Teacher Education – Regulates teacher education institutions’ norms, curriculum frameworks, and standards.
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan	Provides integrated support for teacher training, infrastructure, inclusive education, and digital classrooms under one umbrella scheme.
DIKSHA Platform	National digital platform for teachers offering training content, e-resources, and tools for professional development.
NISHTHA Program	National Initiative for School Heads & Teachers’ Holistic Advancement, a comprehensive teacher training program focused on competency & learning.
Integrated Teacher Education Program	A 4-year integrated B.Ed programme was introduced under NEP 2020 to replace fragmented teacher training and improve subject-pedagogy synergy.
SWAYAM Platform	Provides MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) for teacher education and continuous professional development.
National Professional Standards for Teachers	Proposed under NEP 2020 to define benchmarks for teacher performance, career progression, and training needs assessment.

Way Forward: Future-Ready Reforms in Teacher Education

Reimagine B.El.Ed: Restructure it to align with foundational years (3–8 years age group) and multidisciplinary model under NEP.
Ensure Quality of TEIs: Mandate NAAC/NCTE accreditation, live dashboards for compliance, and periodic performance audits.
Integrate AI, Digital & Multilingual Tools: Integrate AI literacy, digital pedagogy, and regional languages into B.Ed/M.Ed programs while promoting teacher-generated digital content.
Enhance Practical Training & Mentorship: Extend internships to at least 20 weeks; introduce school-university partnerships for hands-on mentorship.
Boost Attractiveness of Teaching Profession: Improve salary parity with other professions, fast-track promotions, and leadership roles.
Create a Career Progression Framework: Introduce National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) for growth, recognition, and accountability.
Encourage Equity and Gender Inclusion: Incentivise women from rural and tribal areas to join teacher training institutions.

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said, “If a country is to be corruption-free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference—father, mother, and teacher.”

Transforming teacher education is vital for delivering inclusive, tech-driven, and globally aligned learning and for achieving Viksit Bharat@2047’s vision; NEP 2020 provides the roadmap for this transformation.

Reference: Indian Express

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 184

Q. “Reforming teacher education is not merely about safeguarding legacy systems but about future-proofing institutions for evolving societal and pedagogical needs.” Examine this statement in the context of ongoing reforms in India’s teacher education landscape. (150 words) (10 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Briefly highlight the need to reform teacher education to meet the needs of 21st-century learning, technological advancements, and national goals, such as Viksit Bharat 2047.
Body: Discuss the key reforms and the challenges in teacher education in India.
Conclusion: Emphasise future-ready teacher education through curriculum renewal, digital pedagogy, mentorship, and institutional accountability.