Pralhad Joshi Launches Six-Month Bridge Course for B.Ed Primary Teachers

New Delhi: Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi on September 16 launched a six-month Certificate (Bridge) Course in Primary Teacher Education (PTE) aimed at in-service primary school teachers holding a B.Ed. degree.

The programme is designed to help eligible teachers acquire the skills 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).

The initiative seeks to strengthen teachers’ pedagogical abilities through child-centred, inclusive and developmentally appropriate teaching practices, with a focus on improving the quality of education at the foundational and primary stages.

Designed according to the framework of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), the programme will combine academic learning with practical classroom experience. It will include six theory courses, at least 10 days of online contact classes and at least 20 days of school-based experience.

The course will also include practice teaching, reflective journals, portfolios, video tutorials, e-learning materials and digital learning platforms. The objective is to help teachers connect educational theory with classroom practice while continuing their professional responsibilities.

The programme is intended to equip teachers to respond to diverse learning needs among young children and develop the skills, attitudes and reflective abilities needed for effective primary-level teaching.

The bridge course follows the Supreme Court judgment of April 8, 2024, in Civil Appeal No. 5068 of 2023, Devesh Sharma Vs. Union of India and Others. The judgment enabled the NCTE to devise a bridge course for certain primary teachers who were appointed without a D.El.Ed. qualification.

According to the Ministry, the course has been designed for in-service primary teachers appointed between June 28, 2018 and August 11, 2023, who hold a B.Ed. degree and are teaching at the primary level.

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.

The programme will be delivered through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. Instruction will be offered in Hindi and English, while teachers will be permitted to write the public theory examination in any of the 22 scheduled languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.

Eligible teachers can apply online through the dedicated NIOS bridge course portal. They will be able to register, upload documents and track their admission status through the online dashboard.

Course materials, including self-learning resources, will be provided digitally. Teachers will also have access to supplementary audio-visual content and interactive learning resources.

The government expects the programme to strengthen primary-level teaching competencies and support improved learning outcomes for children at the foundational and primary stages.