Maharashtra makes CET compulsory for integrated BEd courses

Draft syllabus for the examination has been released for public review

Almost two years after Maharashtra government introduced a centralised admission process (CAP) for BEd courses, the state has now decide to make CAP mandatory for integrated BEd courses — BA BEd, BCom BEd, BSc BEd and BEd-MEd — as well. Until now, colleges and universities admitted students to these courses directly.

Earlier this month, the state directorate of higher education (DHE) announced that a state-level common entrance test (CET) will be held for the students aspiring for these courses. (Representational photo/HT)

Earlier this month, the state directorate of higher education (DHE) announced that a state-level common entrance test (CET) will be held for the students aspiring for these courses. A draft syllabus for the examination has been released for public review.

“Maharashtra Unaided Private Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation Of Admissions And Fees) Act, 2015, requires the government to admit students to all professional courses through a centralised process. Until now, there was no such process for the integrated teacher training courses,” said an official from state CET cell.

Although the admissions to various professional courses administered by the directorate of technical education (DTE), such as engineering, health science, pharmacy, architecture and hotel management, took place through CAP, the state introduced a similar process for various teacher training and law courses, which are administered by the DHE.

The idea of composite courses was introduced as part of National Council of Teachers Education (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations 2014. This includes BA BEd, BSc BEd and BCom BEd — four-year-long courses that combine two undergraduate courses — and BEd-MEd — a three-year-long course —that combines an undergraduate and a postgraduate course.

While there are very few colleges offering integrated teacher training courses, the state is mulling to introduce them to government-run teacher training institutes. In January, the state had formed a four-member committee, headed by the director of higher education Dhanraj Mane, to check feasibility of such courses.