NIOS to Deliver Bridge Programme for B.Ed Holders Appointed Since 2018

The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has been tasked with running a new six‑month bridge course for primary teachers who possess a B.Ed degree but have not yet earned the specific primary‑teacher certification. Union Minister Prakash Joshi unveiled the programme on 17 September, highlighting its role in raising the standards of elementary education.

The course comprises ten days of online contact sessions and twenty days of school‑based training, following the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) guidelines. Six theoretical modules are paired with practical classroom exposure to ensure teachers can translate theory into effective teaching practice.

This initiative directly responds to a Supreme Court judgment delivered on 8 April 2024, which granted NCTE authority to design bridge courses for teachers appointed without the required D.L.Ed qualification. Consequently, the programme is open to teachers whose appointments were made between 28 June 2018 and 11 August 2023 under the B.Ed eligibility clause.

The Ministry of Education expects the bridge course to reinforce teachers' capacity to deliver inclusive, high‑quality education at the primary level.