B.Ed. Not an Approved Qualification for Primary School Teachers, Rules Supreme Court

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: In a key ruling, the Supreme Court of India has reiterated that a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) is not a valid qualification for primary school teachers. The court stated that the required qualification for such appointments is a Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.).

The judgment, delivered by a bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia, upheld its earlier decision in the Devesh Sharma vs Union of India case (2023 INSC 704). The court highlighted that the right to primary education under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution and the Right to Education Act, 2009, not only ensures free and compulsory education for children under 14 but also demands the provision of quality education.

The apex court reasoned that B.Ed. holders lack the foundational pedagogical training needed to teach primary students, thus falling short in delivering quality education. However, the court’s ruling will be applied prospectively, safeguarding the positions of B.Ed. teachers appointed before August 11, 2023.

Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi announced a significant recruitment drive on Teacher’s Day. The state government plans to hire 16,010 junior teachers within the next three weeks, bringing the total number of new teachers to be recruited to 27,197.