NO MORE 'ACCIDENTAL TEACHERS'

Inaugurated in March, Delhi's first-of-its-kind university, Delhi Teachers University, is aiming to train new generation teachers. In line with New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the university will offer new-age integrated teacher education programmes to students right after Class 12 and begin its academic activities from this academic year, 2022-23. Delhi Teachers University Vice Chancellor Dhananjay Joshi spoke to Careers360 about how India can no longer afford to "sell literacy in the name of education". Edited excerpts below.

- Sanjay

Q. Does Delhi Teachers' University already have a campus?

A. The university is currently functioning from Outram Lane, Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi and it is fully ready for academic purpose. It is a transient campus on the land of Directorate of Education (DoE) and has been given to the university on lease till the permanent campus becomes ready for use. The Outram lane campus has 22 rooms, four labs, one auditorium that can seat 200, an administrative block and a library. We will be starting our first batch from this campus.

The permanent campus will sit on 12 acres at Bakkarwala village in west Delhi and will be ready in twothree years. The total intake then will be 10,000.

Q. What courses will the university offer?

A. Our board of management has passed seven courses for which we have sought approval from the National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE).

These include a four-year integrated BEd, two-year BEd, two-year BEd in special education, three-year integrated BEd, three-year MEd programme, two-year MA Education and oneyear certificate programme for in-service teachers in school and higher education.

We have already developed the curriculum. As and when NCTE grants recognition for courses, we will begin the admission process.

Q. How are these courses in line with National Education Policy 2020

A. NEP says that faculty who are teaching in higher education institutes must also be trained. We feel that once you are in the teaching profession, there must be a permanent and continuous professional development (CPD). Our university will work as a model institution for CPD in the coming years. So, we are planning to launch two certificate courses one for school teachers and another for university teachers.

Q. When will the admission process begin and with how many students? Plus, do you have teachers?