scorecardresearch
Friday, March 29, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomeIndiaEducationIIT Council discusses proposal to launch 4-yr BEd course, mental health of...

IIT Council discusses proposal to launch 4-yr BEd course, mental health of students in focus too

Factors behind student dropouts also discussed at meeting following which education minister asked Council for a report. Council decides enhancing support to SC/ST students.

Follow Us :
Text Size:

New Delhi: The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) could introduce four-year integrated B.Ed programmes in the future for which a proposal was discussed in the Council meeting Tuesday.

The other focus was discussion on students welfare and taking measures to address the issue of suicides at IITs.

Held after a gap of more than two years, Tuesday’s meeting was presided by Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and attended by IIT directors along with officials from the education ministry and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

“The Council discussed the proposals to introduce a 4 year BEd Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) programme in IITs. The Minister emphasised that IITs can be torch bearers for bringing quality upgradation in teachers,” the press note added.

ITEP is a 4-year dual-major undergraduate degree offering B.A. B.Ed./ B. Sc. B. Ed. and B.Com. B.Ed.

This course is supposed to prepare teachers for the four stages of the new school structure, i.e. Foundational, Preparatory, Middle and Secondary (5+3+3+4). Currently, it is being offered at teacher education institutions. But, the Council is now proposing to introduce the same at IITs.

At the meeting, factors behind student dropouts were also discussed and the minister asked the Council for a detailed report on the matter.

Sources present in the meeting said that some of the reasons discussed behind student dropouts was not being able to handle the academic pressure in the first couple of years. “Dropouts are more common among students from the SC/ST/OBC sections. Sometimes they do not feel belonged and hence it affects their academic performance. Different IITs try to help them in different ways,” said a source.

Given the recent spate of suicides at IITs, the matter of suicide prevention was discussed at the meeting. In March, two cases from IIT Madras and one from IIT Bombay were reported, bringing the focus back to the mental health of students. According to data provided in Parliament in March, 33 students from across IITs died by suicide since 2018.

“Director, IIT Gandhinagar presented the possible underlying societal, psychological and other health issues behind depression among students. The Council discussed steps needed to ensure mental health and wellness of students. It focussed on the need of a robust grievance redressal system, increasing psychological counselling services, reducing pressure and highlighting the importance of reducing fear of failure/rejection among students,” the press note added.

The Council agreed to enhance support to SC/ ST students and also resolved to enhance the tenure of support to female PhD students for one more additional year.

Further, the minister told IITs to develop a 25-year vision aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

“The Council decided that each IIT shall deliberate with faculty, students and other stakeholders and finalise their long term vision by next year. The Council will also create a short term strategy plan for immediate needs of the country,” the note added.

(Edited by Tony Rai)


Also Read: IIT Roorkee works towards improving earthquake warning time to 40 seconds or more


 

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular