Supreme Court Confirms D.El.Ed. as the Sole Qualification for Primary Teachers, Disqualifies B.Ed. Candidates.


28 August 2024 Education >> Miscellaneous  

In a significant ruling delivered on August 11, 2023, the Supreme Court of India addressed the qualifications required for primary school teachers, reaffirming that a Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.) is the essential qualification, while candidates holding a Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.) are deemed disqualified. This decision stemmed from the case of Devesh Sharma v. Union of India, which challenged a previous judgment by the Rajasthan High Court regarding teacher appointments.

The Rajasthan High Court had earlier ruled that only candidates with a D.El.Ed. qualification could be appointed as primary school teachers, rendering those with a B.Ed. ineligible. This ruling was based on the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) notification dated June 28, 2018, which had controversially allowed B.Ed. candidates to be considered for primary teaching roles. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision, quashing the NCTE notification and emphasizing that the essential qualification for primary teachers is D.El.Ed.

 
 

Following this ruling, numerous review applications emerged, primarily from candidates with B.Ed. qualifications who had been selected and appointed by various states before the Supreme Court’s decision. On April 8, 2024, the Supreme Court clarified that these candidates, having been appointed before the August ruling, would not be affected by the new judgment due to special equity in their favor. The Court emphasized that the ruling would operate prospectively, protecting the positions of those B.Ed. candidates already in service prior to August 11, 2023.

However, the situation took a new turn when the Chhattisgarh High Court declared on April 2, 2024, that B.Ed. candidates were disqualified for primary school teaching positions, adhering to the Supreme Court’s earlier judgment. The appointments of these candidates had occurred after the August 2023 decision, prompting them to seek redress from the Supreme Court, which found no grounds for intervention.

The Supreme Court reaffirmed that the qualification rules under the Chhattisgarh School Education Services Recruitment and Promotion Rules, 2019, which included B.Ed. as a valid qualification, could no longer be applied following the Supreme Court's ruling in Devesh Sharma. Consequently, the disqualification of B.Ed. candidates who were appointed after the cutoff date was upheld, marking a decisive end to their claims.

In conclusion, the Supreme Court's ruling serves as a pivotal affirmation of educational standards in teacher recruitment, ensuring that only those with the appropriate qualifications are entrusted with the vital role of educating young minds. This decision underscores the importance of adhering to established educational norms and reflects a commitment to maintaining high standards in primary education across India.

  Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009