National Council for Teacher Education, Function, Structure

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) is a statutory body in India that plays a crucial role in
maintaining and improving the quality of teacher education. It is responsible for formulating policies and programs,
as well as coordinating the development of teacher education across the country. Aspiring teachers who aim to join
schools and educational institutions should have detailed knowledge about NCTE as its an important part of their
Teaching Career and scoring topic in teaching exam.

What is the National Council for Teacher Education?

The National Council for Teacher Education, or NCTE, is a statutory body of Govt Of India. It is an autonomous body
for regulating and monitoring teacher education in India. It is responsible for setting up norms and standards for
various courses related to teaching. It also conducts numerous examinations for these courses.
It comes under the Ministry of Education. Recently, it launched a portal to streamline the entire process of
recognition of teacher education programs of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Teacher Education
Institutions (TEIs).

NCTE Full Form

NCTE Full Form is National Council for Teacher Education. The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) was
established on August 17, 1995, as a statutory body under the Government of India. Its primary objective is to ensure
systematic and coordinated development of teacher education across the country. The NCTE is entrusted with the
responsibility of regulating and upholding the prescribed norms and standards for teacher education, contributing
to the enhancement of teaching quality nationwide.

Origin of NCTE
NCTE came into existence in 1995 under the National Council for Teacher Education Act of 1993. Section 17 of this
act states the following, “The National Council for Teacher Education shall be responsible for the development and
implementation of a procedure to ensure that an institute of higher education offering a teacher preparation
program meets the National Standards for Accreditation set forth in this section”.

National Council for Teacher Education Overview

Oragnistation NCTE
Full Form National Council for Teacher Education
Established 1973
Working Under Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)
Recommendations Education Commission (1964-66)
Purpose to the standardization of teacher education across the country and raising awareness about
related issues.
Passed in National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 on 17 August 1995
Headquarter Delhi
Regional Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhuwneshwar and Jaipur
commiittee
Official website https://ncte.gov.in/website/index.aspx

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Structure of the National Council for Teacher Education
The National Council for Teacher Education has its headquarters in New Delhi. There are four regional committees
of NCTE, i.e., NRC, SRC, WRC, and ERC, situated in New Delhi to look over its statutory responsibilities. There is one
Chairperson who heads the entire body and the four regional committees. Just below him/her is a Vice Chairperson.
Below these are Member secretaries, i.e., 3 Deputy Secretaries at NCTE headquarters and 1 Regional Director at each
Regional Committee.

Objectives of the National Council for Teacher Education

The ambit of the National Council for Teacher Education is wide and covers a range of education programs. From
research and training of persons to equip them with the knowledge and skill to teach, the NCTE covers education at
all levels. The National Council for Teacher Education has two main broad objectives.
• The first objective is to achieve planned and coordinated development of the teacher education system
throughout the country.
• The regulation and proper maintenance of Norms/Regulations and Standards in the teacher education system
and any other matter connected to it.

NCTE programmes
A number of programs are recognized by NCTE to fulfill these objectives. Some of these programs which are on
diploma, Bachelor and Masters level has been mentioned below.

Diploma Bachelor Degree Master degree

• Diploma in Preschool Education • Bachelor of Elementary Education • Master of Education
(DPSE) (B.EL.Ed.) (M.Ed.) degre
• Diploma in Elementary • Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree. • Master of Physical
Education (D.EL.Ed.). • Bachelor of Physical Education Education (M.P.Ed.)
• Diploma in Physical Education (B.P.Ed.) • B.Ed., M.Ed (Integrated)
(D.P.Ed.). • Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) (ODL) degree.
• Diploma in Elementary • B.A.B.Ed./B.Sc.B.Ed. degree.
Education (D.ELEd.). (ODL) • Bachelor of Education programme 3-
• Diploma in Arts Education year (Part Time)
(Visual Arts).
• Diploma in Arts Education
(Performing Arts)

Functions of the National Council for Teacher Education

The NCTE covers the entire range of teacher education programs in India, from diploma in Elementary Education to
B.ed and M.ed. It includes research and training that is more in line to equip students and teachers to the demands
of the new school system as per the NEP 2020. It has been given various significant roles and has taken up various
mandates such as Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP), National Professional Standards for Teachers
(NPST), and National Mission for Mentoring (NMM). Here is a small snippet of its core functions and responsibilities.
• Accreditation for Institutions working in Teacher training and upskilling.
• Conduct surveys of teacher education.
• Advises the central and state government in all matters relating to teacher education.
• Specifies the minimum qualification for a person to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in schools.
• Recognises courses and programs leading to a teaching qualification.

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• It derecognizes courses and programs that do not meet minimum prescribed standards.
• Registers teachers and authorizes them to teach in schools.
• Conducts examinations for the award of certificates to successful candidates.

National Council for Teacher Education & NEP 2020

The National Education Policy 2020 brought a series of changes at all levels, including the Teacher Education
Institutions. The NCTE is tasked with planning a detailed action plan to bring these Teacher Education Institutions
(TEIs) to implement the key aspects of NEP 2020.
The NCTE plans on moving TEI to multidisciplinary colleges and universities by 2030 in a phased manner. One of
the crucial pillars to all of this implementation of NEP 2020 is National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST).
NCTE develops this for determining attributes of teachers at different levels of their career path.

Why is the National Council for Teacher Education important?

The NCTE plays a vital role in setting the standards for teaching training throughout India. Thus, it maintains
uniformity in quality teachers. NCTE implements various measures to fulfill the demands of NEP 2020. It regulates
teacher education throughout the country to make sure teachers are trained to follow a certain standard. The
National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) is important for several reasons:
• Regulation of Teacher Education: The NCTE is responsible for formulating and maintaining standards and
guidelines for teacher education programs in India. It ensures that teacher education institutions adhere to these
standards, which helps in improving the quality of teacher training and, consequently, the overall quality of
education in the country.
• Ensuring Quality Teachers: By setting rigorous standards for teacher education, the NCTE plays a crucial role
in producing well-qualified and competent teachers. It ensures that teachers are equipped with the necessary
knowledge, skills, and pedagogical training to effectively impart education to students.
• Enhancing Professionalism: The NCTE promotes professionalism in the teaching profession by setting
benchmarks for teacher preparation and continuous professional development. It encourages teachers to engage
in lifelong learning and stay updated with the latest teaching methodologies and best practices.
• Accreditation and Recognition: The NCTE grants recognition and accreditation to teacher education
institutions, ensuring that only institutions meeting the prescribed standards are authorized to offer teacher
training programs. This helps in weeding out substandard institutions and maintaining a reputable and
accountable teacher education system.
• Fostering Research and Innovation: The NCTE encourages research and innovation in teacher education,
pedagogy, and educational practices. It supports initiatives that lead to the advancement of teaching methods,
curriculum development, and educational technologies.
• Promoting Inclusive Education: The NCTE advocates for inclusive education practices, ensuring that teachers
are trained to cater to the diverse learning needs of students, including those with disabilities and from
marginalized backgrounds.
• Developing Teaching Policies: The NCTE actively collaborates with other educational bodies and government
agencies in the formulation of policies related to teacher education and the teaching profession. It provides
valuable insights and recommendations for educational reforms.
• Continuous Evaluation and Improvement: The NCTE regularly reviews and evaluates teacher education
programs to identify areas of improvement. This helps in addressing emerging challenges and adapting teacher
education to the evolving needs of the education system.
• Global Recognition: The NCTE’s efforts in maintaining high-quality teacher education standards also contribute
to India’s recognition in the global education community. It ensures that Indian teachers are well-prepared to
meet international standards, enhancing the credibility of Indian education abroad.

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