To uplift the standard of teacher education in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) by addressing critical issues and challenges and paving the way for a more competent and well-prepared generation of educators, the University of Kashmir (KU) Thursday hosted a high-level meeting here.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders and educational leaders to address various concerns related to teacher training, regulatory compliance and institutional recognition.
The meeting was attended by Chairman, National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), Government of India, Prof Pankaj Arora; KU Vice Chancellor, Prof Nilofer Khan, Director Colleges, Higher Education Department, J&K, Prof Sheikh Ajaz Bashir and other important teacher education functionaries of the region.
On the occasion, Chairman, NCTE, Prof Pankaj Arora, underscored NCTE’s commitment of quality teacher education while urging institutions to adhere to NCTE norms to ensure efficient and quality teacher training for building a future-ready system in the region.
“NCTE provides robust support to educational institutions in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure compliance with quality standards, thereby uplifting teacher training to meet national benchmarks,” he said, assuring that the council would facilitate recognition process for institutions meeting the prescribed standards on fast-track.
KU Vice Chancellor, Prof Nilofar Khan, thanked the Chairman, NCTE for the council’s efforts in supporting institutions create a niche for themselves.
“Our collective aim should be to strengthen teacher education and collaborate with NCTE to bring impactful advancements to the region’s education landscape,” she stated.
Dean, Academic Affairs, KU, Prof Shariefuddin Pirzada, lauded NCTE's initiatives, saying: “The active engagement of NCTE with educational institutions here signifies a constructive shift towards meeting the unique educational needs of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Dean, College Development Council, Prof Khursheed A Butt, proposed some relaxation and extension in dates to institutions to fulfill the required criteria for recognition and for introduction of courses and programmes.
“Recognition and support from NCTE can be a game-changer for institutions in J&K, enabling them to enhance programme quality and gain credibility,” he said.
Acknowledging NCTE’s support, KU Registrar, Prof Naseer Iqbal, said: “This commitment from NCTE will expedite institutional recognition and raise the quality of teacher education programmes in the valley.”
Dean, School of Education and Behavioural Sciences, KU, Prof Tasleema Jan; Director, Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), KU, Prof Shawkat Ahmad Shah; Principal, Government College of Education, Institute of Advanced Studies in Education (IASE), Cluster University, Srinagar, Prof Seema Naz; Advisor, NCTE and Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chairman, NCTE, DK Chaturvedi; faculty, Department of Education and Coordinator, Design and Innovation Centre, Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Dr Firdous Ahmad Sofal; Incharge Principal, DIET Srinagar, Dr Fayaz Ahmad Bhat; Programme Coordinator B Ed and Assistant Professor, CDOE, KU, Dr Habibullah Shah also spoke during the meeting.
