Centre Launches Primary Teacher Bridge Course
Six-month NIOS programme to train in-service B.Ed teachers in child-centred and inclusive primary education
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 17th Sept: Union Minister for Education Pralhad Joshi on September 16 launched the six-month Certificate (Bridge) Course in Primary Teacher Education (PTE) in New Delhi.
The programme is designed for in-service primary school teachers who hold a B.Ed degree and aims to provide them with the professional training and competencies required to teach students at the primary level, covering Classes I to V.
The course will be implemented through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and will focus on child-centred, inclusive and developmentally appropriate teaching practices.
Designed in accordance with the framework of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), the bridge course will combine academic learning with practical classroom experience.
The programme will comprise six theory courses and a school-based practicum. It will also include at least 10 days of online contact classes and at least 20 days of school-based experience.
The practical component will include practice teaching, reflective journals and portfolios, enabling teachers to connect educational theory with classroom practices.
The programme aims to strengthen teachers’ understanding of foundational learning and equip them to respond to the diverse learning needs of young children.
The course will be offered through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode, allowing in-service teachers to undertake professional training while continuing their teaching responsibilities.
Course components will include contact programmes, video tutorials, e-learning materials and digital learning platforms. Teachers will also receive access to supplementary resources, including audio and video content and interactive learning material.
The medium of instruction will be Hindi and English. However, teachers will be permitted to write the public examination in any of the 22 scheduled languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
The bridge course follows the Supreme Court’s April 8, 2024 judgment in Devesh Sharma vs Union of India and Others, which empowered NCTE to devise a bridge course for certain primary teachers appointed without a D.El.Ed qualification.
The course has been designed for eligible in-service primary teachers who were appointed between June 28, 2018 and August 11, 2023, and who hold a B.Ed degree.
It is specifically intended for teachers whose appointments are protected under the NCTE Gazette Notification F. No. NCTE-Reg. 012/2018 dated June 28, 2018.
Eligible teachers can apply for the programme online through the designated NIOS bridge course portal. The admission process will allow applicants to register, upload required documents and track their admission status through an online dashboard.
All course materials, including self-learning resources, will be provided digitally.
The programme is intended to strengthen primary-stage pedagogical competencies and promote teaching practices that support foundational learning, inclusion and the overall development of children.
