Primary Teachers | Any Bridge Course To Put B.Ed. Holders At Par With D.El.Ed. Candidates? Supreme Court Asks Union

In a service-related matter, the Supreme Court has asked the Union of India to apprise if there is any bridge course in operation that teachers with Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) qualification, who were appointed prior to its judgment in 2023, can take to train themselves to be at par with D.El.Ed candidates.

The direction has come in an order passed by the Bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia, which has also enquired of the Union as to how many vacancies for primary teachers are there in the country for the years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, which are yet to be advertised.

It may be recalled that in 2018, National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) issued a notification making B.Ed. degree holders eligible for appointment to the post of primary school teachers (classes I to V).

In a challenge, the Rajasthan High Court quashed this notification and held that B.Ed. candidates were unqualified for the posts of primary school teachers.

In 2023, the Supreme Court concurred with the decision of the Rajasthan High Court. Based on Article 21A of the Indian Constitution and Right to Education Act, 2009, it was of the view that children below 14 years of age not only had a right to 'free' and 'compulsory' education but also that of 'quality' education. As per the top Court, B.Ed. degree holders did not pass the basic pedagogical threshold required for teaching primary classes and thus could not provide 'quality' education to primary school children.

Taking cue, the Patna High Court also reiterated late last year that B.Ed. degree holders were not eligible for primary school teaching jobs.

Now, the matter is again before the Supreme Court. It is next listed for April 1, 2024.

Case Title: Devesh Sharma v. Union of India & Ors., M.A. Diary No(s). 4303/2024 in C.A.No.5068/2023

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