Mangalore: No Takers for Diploma in Education - is D Ed a Dead Course?

Prakash Samaga
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore

Mangalore, Sep 27: Given the drastic decrease in the number of students seeking admission for teachers’ training colleges (diploma in education - D Ed course) across the state, many D Ed colleges are on the verge of closure.

Believe it or not, out of the total 862 D Ed colleges across the state, the total enrolment for the academic year 2012-13 is only 905. Twin districts viz Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are no better. In Dakshina Kannda there are 16 colleges but only 22 students have been enrolled and two colleges, namely Sahyadri and Vidyodaya, have been closed as there are no takers. In Udupi, nine students have been allotted seats in six institutions.

The statistics raises a fear that many colleges in the state are facing the threat of closure if timely action to attract students for D Ed courses is not taken. It is not a conjecture, but a reality of the sad state of affairs.

The poor student turnout is a stark example of the apathy of the government. If the government shows no interest in recruiting and appointing new teachers for three years, who would want to come into a profession that may end up in unemployment?
 
Adding salt to the wound, there are talks doing the rounds that B Ed would be made mandatory for recruiting primary school teachers teaching 6th and 7th standards, and hence those interested in pursuing D Ed are mulling over their decision, fearing uncertainity. Also, increasing the retirement age limit from 58 to 60 years for primary teachers has caused a hindered recruitment.

Another factor which has led to low number of aspirants for the teaching profession is that applications are invited very late, during the month of August. By then, the PU results would have been announced and the students would go for other courses rather than getting into the teaching profession. Also, applications are received through online process and students from rural areas remain oblivious due to lack of internet facility.

This state of D Ed colleges is not limited to the district alone. In Ramanagar district, only two seats are occupied in 16 colleges. In Hassan, the ratio is 6:26, Udupi 9:6. Except in Kamalapura of Gulbarga district where 193 seats have been taken in 51 colleges, all the other districts have been facing a severe shortage in intake.

When Daijiworld contacted D Phalakshappa, principal of District Institute of Education Training (DIET), Mangalore, he said that the decrease in enrolment for teaching course is a matter of concern. He recalled that a few years back, students used to wait in queue to get admissions to teaching course. He admitted that the non-recruitment of teachers for schools in the last three years has also been a major reason for this.

Will the education department of the state government look into this issue as it is a statewide dilemma relating to education? Will the government let go of its lethargy or will it watch D Ed go dead?