PANAJI
Following directives from the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), the State Directorate of Education (DoE) has asked aided and recognised unaided primary schools in the State to get their untrained in-service teachers enrolled on SWAYAM portal by September 15 for completing the two-year Diploma in Elementary Education (D El Ed) course.
This would be the last opportunity for these teachers to complete their education and save their jobs.
As per DoE data, there are 454 untrained teachers in schools across the State, over 90 per cent of them are in recognised unaided schools.
Officials of DoE on Tuesday held a meeting with the managements and heads of nearly 55 aided and recognised unaided schools having teachers who do not have the requisite qualification to teach at the elementary level.
In a presentation made before the school managements, DoE, quoting the letter of MHRD to the State Chief Secretary, stated, "It is reiterated that this would be the last chance to acquire the requisite minimum professional qualifications. Any teacher in the aforementioned schools, who do not have the minimum qualifications mandated under the RTE Act 2009, would not be allowed to continue in-service beyond April 1, 2019, and procedure for dismissal shall be initiated against such teachers."
As far as the training to teachers is concerned, it would be provided by National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) through the Online Distance Learning (ODL) Mode through their
specially designed portal named SWAYAM.
To monitor the progress and completion of the training, the State Government will set up a committee under the chairmanship of Secretary, Education.
Additionally, a State Coordinator would be appointed to facilitate conduct of the programme and for continuous engagement with MHRD and NIOS.
"Principal of DIET will be the State Coordinator and State Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan will provide logistical support for conducting the programme," stated a DoE
official.
The prospective teacher trainee must have a minimum percentage of 50 per cent at the +2 level.
