Students & syllabi evolving, yet BEd teacher training lags behind
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Hyderabad: While school and university curricula continue to evolve to meet changing learner needs, the Bachelor of Education (BEd) programme, which trains the very teachers responsible for delivering these lessons, remains outdated and largely unchanged, educationists pointed out at the India Academic Forum organised by QS IGauge on Thursday.
Experts said this disconnect between modern curriculum reforms and stagnant teacher training is emerging as a significant roadblock to the successful implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP). They warned that teachers continue to be trained in archaic methods, leaving them underprepared for the pedagogical and emotional demands of today's classrooms.
"While students and syllabi have evolved, the BEd programme has barely changed in decades," said Lakshmi Kumar, director of Avasara Academy.
"A teacher with 30 years of experience is often only experienced in teaching one grade, using the same methods. Like doctors, teachers must also evolve constantly if we want to shape better adults. Unfortunately, many only attend professional development courses when mandated.
Ongoing learning should be seen as essential, not optional."
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Echoing this concern, Pratima Sinha, CEO of DSR educational society, pointed to the growing gap between student needs and teacher preparedness.
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"We're dealing with a new generation of learners who have very different behaviours and emotional needs. Yet many senior teachers struggle to keep pace. The pedagogy, engagement styles, and even student expectations have changed rapidly, but our training methods haven't," she said. "Most teachers aren't even aware of the shifts happening in education. It's not enough to teach content anymore; teachers must be equipped to connect with learners.
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Meghana Gorukanti Jupally, founder and director of Meru International School, called for closer collaboration between teacher training institutes and schools.
"If we want real change, BEd colleges must work in tandem with schools. Aspiring teachers need hands-on exposure to modern classrooms during training," she said. "Also, we must bring back respect for the teaching profession. Today, fewer people are enrolling in BEd programmes, and that reflects how society undervalues educators. That mindset needs to shift."
Experts agreed that unless teacher training reforms keep pace with broader education policy changes, the goals of the NEP may remain out of reach.
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