The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) in India has launched an Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) in 57 Teacher-Education Institutions throughout the country starting from the academic session of 2023-24.
This programme is a flagship initiative under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and offers a 4-year dual-major holistic undergraduate degree in B.A., B.Ed., B. Sc., B. Ed. B.Com. and B.Ed, according to an official press release.
The aim of this course is to prepare teachers for the new 4-stage school structure (Foundational, Preparatory, Middle and Secondary), which is based on a 5+3+3+4 model.
ITEP will be offered in pilot mode initially in reputed Central/State Government Universities/Institutions and will be available for all students who choose teaching as a profession after Secondary School.
This integrated course will benefit students by allowing them to complete their teacher education in four years instead of the customary five years required by the present B.Ed. plan.
Admissions will be carried out by the National Testing Agency (NTA) through the National Common Entrance Test (NCET).
The ITEP programme aims to impart cutting-edge pedagogy, early childhood care and education (ECCE), foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN), inclusive education, and an understanding of India and its values, ethos, art, traditions, among others.
The course will contribute substantially to the revitalization of the whole teacher-education sector and the prospective teachers will be instilled with the needs of 21st century global standards through a multi-disciplinary environment grounded in Indian values and traditions.