The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has announced plans to phase out the Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) programme by the 2026-27 academic year, replacing it with the Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP).

The four-year B.El.Ed programme, which was first introduced by Delhi University in 1994, will no longer accept new admissions after 2026.

Key Changes in Teacher Education

B.El.Ed Programme to be Discontinued:

• Currently offered in 90-95 institutions across India.
• Colleges can continue enrolling students until 2025, but must transition to ITEP by 2026.

New Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP):

• A four-year degree that combines a bachelor's degree with B.Ed.
• Launched in 2023 with 57 pilot institutions.
• Aims to become the primary teacher education programme by 2030 under NEP 2020.

NCTE’s draft policy states:
“Institutions offering the B.El.Ed programme shall be allowed to enroll students subject to the condition that they shall transition to the new Integrated Teacher Education Programme before the 2026-27 academic session.”

One-Year B.Ed and M.Ed Programmes to Return in 2026-27

In another major shift, NCTE has decided to reintroduce the one-year B.Ed and M.Ed programmes from 2026-27, which were discontinued nearly a decade ago.

Eligibility for B.Ed Programme

One-Year B.Ed: Available for students who have completed a four-year degree or postgraduation.
Two-Year B.Ed: Mandatory for those who have completed a three-year graduation.

Changes in M.Ed Programme

One-Year M.Ed: Offered full-time for students pursuing a higher degree in education.
Two-Year M.Ed: Available only for working teachers and educators.

These changes align with NEP 2020, which promotes flexibility and multiple entry-exit options in higher education.

What’s Next?

NCTE’s draft policy will be finalized soon, guiding institutions on how to transition to ITEP.
Existing B.El.Ed colleges must upgrade to the new framework before 2026-27.
Teacher education will now emphasize multidisciplinary learning, preparing educators for the future.