Union Minister for Education Pralhad Joshi on September 16 launched the six-month Certificate (Bridge) Course in Primary Teacher Education (PTE) in New Delhi, aimed at strengthening the professional competencies of in-service primary school teachers holding B.Ed. degrees.
Implemented through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), the course will provide specialised training to help teachers develop the skills and competencies required to effectively teach students at the primary level, covering Classes I to V, according to press release from the Ministry of Education.
The programme is designed to promote child-centred, inclusive and developmentally appropriate teaching practices, with a focus on improving the quality of education at the foundational and primary stages.
Developed in accordance with the framework of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), the course will combine academic learning with at least 10 days of online contact classes and a minimum of 20 days of school-based experience.
The programme comprises six theory courses and a school-based practicum, enabling teachers to connect educational theory with classroom practice. It is designed to strengthen their ability to address diverse learning needs and foster reflective, inquiry-based and context-sensitive teaching practices.
The programme will be offered through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode and will include contact programmes, school-based practicum, practice teaching, reflective journals, portfolios, video tutorials, e-learning materials and digital learning platforms.
The medium of instruction will be Hindi and English, while teachers will be permitted to take the public theory examination in any of the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Admission to the course will be conducted online through the NIOS bridge course portal. Eligible teachers can register, upload the required documents and track their admission status through the designated dashboard.
Course materials, including self-learning resources and supplementary audio, video and interactive content, will be provided digitally to enable teachers to pursue the programme alongside their professional responsibilities.
-PIB Inputs
