Primary school teachers must complete 6-month bridge course under NCTE's new mandate, failure will void appointments: Check official notice

Anjali Mittal / TOI Education / Apr 11, 2025, 15:57 IST

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National Council for Teacher Education introduces a bridge course. This course is for primary teachers holding Bachelor of Education degree. The decision follows Supreme Court's order. National Institute of Open Schooling will conduct the course online. Teachers appointed between June 2018 and November 2023 are eligible. Completing the course within a year is mandatory. The certification protects current employment only.

Primary school teachers must complete 6-month bridge course under NCTE's new mandate, failure will void appointments: Check official notice

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has introduced a six-month Certificate Course (Bridge) in Primary Teacher Education for in-service primary school teachers holding a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree. This move comes in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive dated November 28, 2023, addressing the appointment criteria of primary teachers.
The course is a one-time opportunity and will be conducted by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in Online and Distance Learning (ODL) mode, subject to official recognition. The Ministry of Education has already approved the course structure proposed by NCTE.
Teachers must complete the bridge course within one year from the date of its commencement by NIOS. Failing to do so will result in invalidation of their appointment, as directed by the apex court.

NCTE's 6-month bridge course mandate: Who is eligible

The bridge course is applicable only to a specific category of in-service teachers. The eligibility criteria are as follows:

Teachers who hold a B.Ed degree.
Those who were appointed as primary school teachers between June 28, 2018 and November 28, 2023.
Their appointment must have been made in accordance with NCTE’s notification dated June 28, 2018.
They must have been in service before the Supreme Court judgment dated November 28, 2023.

No other candidate beyond this specified category will be eligible. A strict mechanism will be put in place by NCTE and NIOS to ensure that only eligible candidates, as per the Supreme Court's judgment dated April 8, 2024, can register and complete the course.

NCTE's 6-month bridge course mandate: Validity and restrictions

The certification will be valid only to protect the current employment of in-service primary teachers covered under the court’s directive. The order clearly states that the certificate cannot be used for future recruitment as a primary school teacher.
According to media reports, NCTE has promised wide publicity and adequate advertisement for the course. The council is also in the process of obtaining formal approval from the competent authorities and finalising operational mechanisms for the course rollout.
The complete notice published by NCTE about the 6-month bridge course can be read here.

About the Author

Anjali Mittal

Anjali Mittal, an intern writer at Times of India, delves into accounts that capture the rhythm of each scene. She believes in using language as a medium to craft opinions that imagine a world beyond the obvious. A graduate in literature from the University of Delhi, she reads extensively to navigate and understand her surroundings. Her writings for the platform include feature pieces on education, jobs, and recruitment. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree from the University of Delhi to fine-tune her skills and stay updated on everything related to her métier.

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