In the backdrop of the HRD ministry citing shortage of properly trained teachers a major reason for lack of quality education in the country, especially in rural areas, the Supreme Court in an important judgment has directed the Centre, states and Union Territories to stop all private unrecognised teachers training institutions from enrolling the students forthwith.
Describing the unrecognised teachers’ training schools as “commercial ventures”, a bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Ganguly in a common judgment on the appeals of 37 such institutions said the Centre, states and Union Territories must regulate teachers training schools as per the mandate of National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993.
“Regulations framed under the Act has been actually deficient and the objects sought to be achieved by enacting the special legislation, namely, planned and coordinated development of teacher education system in the country, the regulation and proper maintenance of norms and standard in the system, have not been fulfilled so far,” the top court said.
In order to stop the “commercial exploitation” of students granted admission by unrecognised institutions, the top court issued 18-point guidelines to the Centre and states on regulation with a direction that “no institution shall admit any student to any teacher training course or programme unless it has obtained recognition under Section 14 and Section 15 of the 1993 Act.”