Big decision by Odisha govt; students can enroll for B.Ed after class 12, new ITEP programme

In a significant move to reform teacher education in Odisha, the Higher Education Department has announced that students can now enroll in the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) programme immediately after completing Class 12, informed Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj on Thursday.

This decision aims to streamline the teacher training process and reduce the course duration from five years to four years, providing aspiring educators with an efficient path to enter the teaching profession.

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As part of this initiative, the state has introduced the Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP), which will be available at selected institutions. Today, an official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between eight teacher training institutes and their respective nearby colleges, marking the commencement of the new programme.

Out of the 16 existing teacher training institutions in Odisha, eight have been chosen to implement the ITEP in collaboration with nearby colleges. Under this framework, students will no longer need a graduation degree to pursue a B.Ed, instead, they can directly enroll after completing Class 12. 

The ITEP is designed in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP), which emphasizes innovative and holistic educational reforms.

The Odisha government’s Higher Education Department has taken this decision as part of its broader efforts to enhance teacher training and make quality education more accessible. By reducing the duration of teacher education, the initiative aims to produce well-trained teachers more efficiently while aligning with national educational standards. 

The ITEP is expected to provide students with a structured, interdisciplinary approach to teacher training, equipping them with essential skills and knowledge to excel in the profession.

With this new approach, the government hopes to attract more students to the teaching profession while ensuring that the training is rigorous and comprehensive. The implementation of ITEP marks a major milestone in the state’s education sector, paving the way for future educators to receive high-quality training in a reduced time-frame.