There has been a steady fall in the number of students opting for the two-year diploma course in teacher education offered by the State government. The situation is so bad that officials are hoping that this year at least 2,500 students join the course – the same number as last year.
Candidates with a pass in class XII can apply for this regular course. Five years ago the sale of application forms crossed 50,000 but in the past couple of years it has been as low as 5,000. In 2012, only 1,300 candidates joined the course.
According to teachers, interest in the course is waning as a large number of trained candidates are waiting for placement.
The glut in placement has led to closure of at least 150 private training institutes in the last five years. At present there are only 400 private institutes.
State Council of Educational Research and Training officials say that as this year the pass percentage in class XII has increased by seven, more students would apply.
“The course is a boon to girls who cannot travel to distant places for college education,” says S. Kannappan, Director of State Council of Educational Research and Training. Candidates can also pursue an undergraduate course through distance mode while doing their regular diploma course.
When the students finish the course and with the advantage of a degree, their chances of getting placed in schools increases as they would perform well in the mandatory teacher eligibility tests (TET). Its scores are valid for five years.
