The Odisha government has issued a directive mandating all B.Ed-qualified teachers teaching Classes I to V to complete a six-month bridge course.
This decision follows the Supreme Court’s ruling and guidelines set by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
Teachers who fail to enrol and pass this online bridge course will face cancellation of their appointments. The directive, circulated by the State Institute of Open Schooling, emphasises that only those who complete the course will be eligible to continue teaching at the primary level.
The Supreme Court had earlier clarified that a B.Ed. degree alone is insufficient for teaching primary classes. Teachers appointed after June 28, 2018, or before the Court’s directive dated August 11, 2023, must undergo this training to retain their positions.
The government has instructed all district education officers to ensure compliance and facilitate enrollment. This move is expected to enhance pedagogical standards and align Odisha’s primary education system with national norms.
