REPORT ON THE ONLINE WEBINAR ON TOWARDS TRANSFORMATION OF TEACHER EDUCATION IN INDIA- KERALA CONTEXT: ITEP AWARENESS AND BRAINSTORMING

REPORT ON THE ONLINE WEBINAR ON TOWARDS TRANSFORMATION OF TEACHER EDUCATION IN INDIA- KERALA CONTEXT: ITEP AWARENESS AND BRAINSTORMING

DATE: 10-08-2024

PLATFORM: GOOGLE MEET

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

• Prayer

• Welcome address

• Introductory Remarks

• Chairman’s address

• Inaugural address: Towards transformation of teacher education

• Key Presentation on ITEP Awareness  and Implementation of ITEP in Kerala context

• Discussion by the participants

• Feedback and Sharing ideas

• Points of Consolidation

• Vote of Thanks

REPORT

On 10th August 2024, Council for Teacher Education Foundation- Kerala in collaboration with Mar Theophilus Training College (MTTC), Nalanchira organised an Online Webinar on Towards Transformation of Teacher Education in India- Kerala Context: ITEP Awareness and Brainstorming was held, beginning at 3:00 PM and concluding at 6:30 PM. The meeting commenced with Abhirami G S serving as the anchor and a prayer led by Sr. Ann Mary Jacob. 

Welcome Address: Prof. Dr. Nimmi Maria Oomen, General Secretary, CTEF, Kerala

• Prof. Dr. Nimmi Maria Oomen delivered the welcome address, where she emphasized the significance of ITEP. 

Introductory Speech: Prof. Dr. Joju John, Principal, MTTC, Nalanchira

• Discussed the importance of ITEP in shaping education and identifying implementation challenges.

• Expressed gratitude to all participants.

Chairman's Address: Dr. M.S. Geetha, Chairperson, CTEF, Kerala

• Emphasized the need to sensitize teacher educators about the emerging ITEP.  She mentioned that the ITEP pilot study had begun and that the Kerala Government was actively working to spread awareness about the program. A commission, chaired by Prof. Mohan B Menon along with Dr. T Mohammed Salim, Prof Asha J V, Prof. Anilkumar, Dr Sajan K S, Prof. T C Thankachan has been established to submit a report on the feasibility of introducing ITEP in the Kerala context.  

• She also suggested that strategic tweaks can be made to our current institutional frame work (Standalone institutions) to integrate a multi-disciplinary setting/environment by introducing minor but effective modifications to our current infrastructure and by making them the prime nodal agency.

• The institutions with rich legacy   and optimal resources should be repurposed as nodal centers of multi-disciplinary excellence. By doing so we will not only honour their legacy but also propel them in to future where they become dynamic epicentres of innovation fostering a holistic approach to teacher education.

• For empowering standalone institutions to embrace multidisciplinary settings/environment , a State level committee or Advisory board may be setup comprising stake holders  from diverse tiers – Colleges of teacher education, Departments of Education, DIETS and TTIs. This collaborative ensemble will harmonize efforts to facilitate an integration of multi-disciplinary environment necessitating minimal transformations within institutions.

Inaugural Address: Prof. Mohan B Menon, Chairman, KSHEC-ITEP Curriculum Committee

The inaugural address was delivered by Prof. Mohan B Menon. He spoke on the significance of ITEP and its implementation, noting the changes in teacher education since independence. He clarified that ITEP is not a replacement for the existing B.Ed course but a new program introduced in the country. He acknowledged the challenges in transition from the existing system and emphasized the need for an open-minded approach to ITEP, which  embraces constructive criticism. He also suggested the necessity of establishing a separate institution for elementary education.

Key Talk on ITEP: Dr. T. Mohammed Salim, Principal, Farook Training College

The key talk on ITEP awareness was delivered by Dr. T. Mohammed Salim, who acknowledged that total transformation is never an easy process. He discussed the challenges faced by teacher education and the potential solutions, emphasizing the importance of having a backup plan (Plan B) while implementing ITEP in Kerala. He provided a comprehensive overview of ITEP, including details on its structure, units, criteria, qualifications, number of teacher educators, and infrastructure requirements. He also explained the criteria for each College of Teacher Education in Kerala to apply for the ITEP Course.

Discussion Points:

Prof. Dr. V Reghu:

• Raised concerns about the quality of teacher education during ITEP implementation, particularly for self-financing colleges.

• Suggested forming a committee to address these concerns and report to the Prime Minister.

• Stressed the importance of M.Ed. qualification for Teacher Educators.

Prof. Dr. Rajeswari K

• Suggested converting stand-alone colleges into nodal agencies and raised concerns about special education.

• Questioned the practicality of integrating B.Com with teacher education and the relevance of Commerce at all levels.

• Asked about the future of the existing M.Ed. course.

Mr. Gireesh Babu:

• Inquired about the qualifications of faculties in Central Universities.

Dr. Malini:

• Asked about the qualifications required for Teacher Educators in ITEP.

Sunila Thomas, Titus II Training College:

• Pointed out the lack of separation between pedagogy and subject knowledge among teacher educators.

Dr. Naisal, Government TTI, Alapuzha:

• Suggested enhancing ties between General Education and Higher Education for ITEP implementation.

Faculty from DIET, Kozhikode:

• Emphasized the importance of Elementary Education and suggested grassroots-level meetings to discuss implementation challenges.

Dr. Sheeja, DIET:

• Proposed upgrading TTI and DIET to UGC standards.

Ms. Mini K S:

• Inquired about the qualifications required for secondary teachers under ITEP.

Ms. Suprabha:

• Mentioned that the Kadar committee's recommendations on school education are approved by the state government but differ from NEP 2020.

Ms. Sindhu, DIET Ernakulam:

• Expressed concerns about ensuring the quality of primary teachers under ITEP.

Ms. Anju Antony:

• Asked whether teachers completing ITEP can teach at the primary level.

Dr. Renuka Sonny:

• Inquired about the integration of Art Education in ITEP.

Dr. K.S. Sajan, NSS Training College, Ottapalam

• Highlighted both the concerns and significance of ITEP for quality initiative for producing competent teachers.

The meeting concluded with Prof. Dr. Maya S, MTTC, Nalanchira consolidating the key points discussed, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Premachandran P, Treasurer, CTEF, Kerala. The meeting ended at 6:30 PM.

REPORT OF TWO DAY NATIONAL SEMINAR AT BUDDHA COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION MUTHUKULAM

Report of the International Conference on “Teacher Education@2030: A Visionary Roadmap for Progressive Education” organized by BNV College of Teacher Education, Thiruvallam, in association with Council for Teacher Education Foundation (CTEF) Kerala on 6th and 7th September 2024

A  two-day International conference on "Teacher Education @ 2030: A Visionary Roadmap for Progressive Education" was organized by BNV College of Teacher Education (BNVCTE) Thiruvallam, in collaboration with Council for Teacher Education Foundation (CTEF) Kerala on 6th and 7th September 2024. The conference, held in hybrid mode, brought together 129 delegates including teacher educators, teachers, research scholars, and M Ed & B Ed students to explore the future of teacher education in alignment with NEP 2020.

The first day began with an inaugural session. The event commenced with the commemoration of Late Thiruvallam N Atchutan Nair, freedom fighter and founder of BNV Trust by lighting the lamp by Shri A Suresh, managing director, BNV Trust Educational Institutions . The conference was presided over by Dr M S Geetha, Chairman, CTEF Kerala and Former Dean, Faculty of Education, University of Kerala. Principal Dr Lakshmi S welcomed the dignitaries and the gathering. The chief guest of the conference, honourable Principal Secretary, Govt.of Kerala Dr Raju Narayana Swamy IAS inaugurated the conference and delivered the inaugural address. During the ceremony, a Memorandum of Understanding (moU) was signed between BNVCTE and CTEF and Dr M S Geetha handed over the Institutional life membership to the Principal Dr. Lakshmi S. Dr G. Valsala, Former Principal, IASE, Thrissur delivered a special address and Dr Rajeswari K , Prof &Head, Centre for Research and Development, NVKSD College of Teacher Education, Attoor felicitated the event. The vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Sunikumari PM , Vice Principal and coordinator of the conference, BNVCTE.

The keynote address delivered by Dr. Protiva Rani Karmakar, Professor & Director (Former), Institute of Modern Language (IML), Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, focussed on the “Role of Effective Teaching in Attaining Sustainable Development in Higher Education”. Dr. Karmaker emphasized the importance of empowering students to promote sustainable development. 

The conference consisted of five sessions, featuring insightful talks and paper presentations by teacher educators, teachers, research scholars, and students.

The first session was led by Prof. (Dr) Brinda Bazeley, Head of the Dept of Education, North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) , Shillong. Dr. Brinda analyzed the NEP 2020 and its implications in higher education. This was followed by Prof.(Dr). K Y Benedict’s , Principal, Mother Teresa College of Teacher Education, Perambra and Chairman, CTEF National -South  zone, discussed transforming Teacher Education Institutions in the context of NEP 2020. The first day of the conference concluded with paper presentations, with 9 papers presented virtually and 11 papers presented offline. 

The second day of the conference started with a session by Dr. Briju Thankachan, executive director, EdTech Society & Consultant in Instructional Design & Team based learning, on “Digital Platforms & Technological innovations of Teachers’ Professionalism”. This was followed  by Prof. (Dr). Issac Paul, Government College of Teacher Education, Thiruvananthapuram on the topic, “Generating Employability Skills: A Core Outcome of NEP 2020” and the final session of the conference was led by Shri. Jasimudeen S, Chief Librarian, St. Stephen’s College, Uzhavoor on the theme, “ AI Tools for Teaching and Research”. The pre-lunch session featured 14 delegates presenting papers on various sub themes of the conference.

The two-day conference concluded with a valedictory session, which included the commemoration of Late Thiruvallam N Atchutan Nair, Freedom fighter and the Founder of BNV Trust by lighting the lamp by Smt. Easwari Amma, Chairperson, BNV Trust. The welcome speech in this session was delivered by the Principal, Dr. Lakshmi S. This was followed by a valedictory address by Dr S Sreedevi, founder Principal, BNVCTE, and Former Principal, Government College of Teacher Education, Thiruvananthapuram. The event also included a special address by Smt. Easwari Amma, Chairperson, BNV Trust. The resume of the conference was presented by Dr Sunikumari P M, Vice Principal and the coordinator of the conference, BNVCTE, and feedback from delegates was shared. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by  Smt. Rekha L R, Assistant professor and IQAC coordinator, BNVCTE. 

TWO DAY NATIONAL SEMINAR AT BUDDHA COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION MUTHUKULAM

THE FUTURE OF GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE :PREDICTIONS & POSSIBILITIES

IN COLLABORATION WITH CTEF KERALA ( ON 27&28 JUNE 2024)

A Two Day National Seminar was hosted by Buddha College of Teacher Education, Muthukulam, on 27 &28 June 2024 in collaboration with Council For Teacher Education Foundation ( CTEF Kerala) based on the theme The Future of generative Artificial Intelligence: Predictions &Possibilities .

Prof (Dr) Nimmi Maria Oommen (Associate Professor, Titus II Teachers College Thiruvalla , & CTEF General Secretary) inaugurated the Two Day National Seminar. 

Welcome Note was conveyed by Mr.Sreehari R, Seminar Convenor. Dr.K.Remadevi, Principal Buddha College of Teacher Education delivered the Presidential Address. Prof (Dr) A Sudharma delivered Keynote Session I and Dr.S.Jayan, Member Syndicate, University of Kerala delivered Keynote session II. 

The Keynote Sessions were succeeded by a Technical Session on the Topic AI Tools in Education , by Mr .Paulson Paul, CEO and co-founder of Rubrics, an Educational Tech Start Up based in Bangalore.

The First Thematic Session was lead by Dr.Sameer Babu, Associate professor, Jamila Milia Islamia University, New Delhi. The Session was based on the Theme, Twenty First Century Skills, Rigorous Employability Challenges and AI State of Affairs.

The Second Thematic Session was lead by Dr George Varghese, Assistant Professor, Mount Tabor Training College, Pathanapuram. The session was based on the theme Future Trends in Education

Offline Paper Presentations were moderated during the Afternoon Session.

Second Day of the Two Day National Seminar was devoted to Online Paper Presentations. There were a total of Forty Online Paper Presentations moderated in Parallel Sessions. Panellists and presenters from across various disciplines, scholars, faculties and researchers espoused in a heated exchange of ideas and  exploration

The Two Day National Seminar concluded with a Valedictory Session in Hybrid Mode.

REPORT ON THE CTEF ONLINE EXECUTIVE MEETINGDate: 30th September 2024

REPORT ON THE CTEF ONLINE EXECUTIVE MEETING

Date: 30th September 2024

Time: 7:00 PM

Platform: Google Meet

Members attended

Dr. M.S. Geetha – Chairperson, CTEF Kerala

Prof. Dr. Nimmi Maria Oommen – General Secretary, CTEF Kerala Chapter

Dr. V.M. Sasikumar – Patron, CTEF South Zone

Dr. Premachandran P – Treasurer, CTEF

Prof. Dr. Rajeswari K

Dr. K.S. Sajan

Dr. Malini P.M.

Dr. K. Sivarajan

Dr. Saramma Chandy

Prof. Dr. Mariamma Mathew

Prof. Dr. Maya S

Dr. Sam V Daniel

Prof. Dr. V Reghu

Dr. K.P. Anilkumar

Dr. T S Nair

Joseph Kachayil

Dr. Anvar K

Dr. Bindu K.J.

Dr. Anila Chacko

Dr. M. Vijayakumari Amma

Dr. Anu Mukund

Ms. Sreekutty SS

Agenda Discussions

Annual Convention Brochure Preparation

Award manual and extension of date of announcement of Award application

New Membership Campaign

CTEF Fundraising Campaign

Other programs organised by CTEF

Other related matters with the permission of the Chair

Introduction:

The online executive meeting of the Council for Teacher Education Foundation (CTEF) was held on 30th September 2024 at 7:00 PM via Google Meet. The primary objective of the meeting was to discuss the progress of various scheduled programs, finalise key decisions regarding the upcoming CTEF Annual Convention, and address other organizational matters. 

Prof. Dr. Nimmi Maria Oommen, General Secretary, CTEF Kerala Chapter welcomed the gathering. Dr. M.S. Geetha, Chairperson, CTEF Keralabegan the meeting by thanking Prof. (Dr.) Joju John, Prof. (Dr.) Maya S and the entire team from Mar Theophilus Training College, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram for providing a platform to conduct an Awareness Programme on ITEP in collaboration with KSHEC constituted Committeeon 10/08/2024.

DECISIONS TAKEN 

Agenda 1: Annual Convention Scheduling and Preparation:

The CTEF Annual Convention, initially scheduled for 6th-8th February 2025, was rescheduled to 13th-15th February 2025 following discussions with national CTEF members. Dr. K.P. Anilkumar, Principal, Devaki Amma Memorial Training College, Chelambrawas tasked with finalizing the convention brochure, with a sense of urgency to release it as soon as possible. The registration fees were also finalized:

CTEF Members: Early bird Rs. 900, late bird Rs. 1000, and spot registration Rs. 1200.

Non-CTEF Members: Early bird Rs. 1000, late bird Rs. 1100, and spot registration Rs. 1200.

Research Scholars: Early bird Rs. 500, late bird Rs. 600, and spot registration Rs. 700.( for CTEF members Rs 100 will be less)

Students: Early bird Rs. 300, late bird Rs. 400, and spot registration Rs. 500.

The early bird registration will be open from 17th October 2024 to 31st December 2024, with late bird registration extending from 1st January to 12th February 2025. Spot registration will take place during the convention dates, 13th February to 15th February. The deadline for submitting abstracts is 15th December 2024, and full papers are due by 15th January 2025. 

The collaborating college for the convention will share its account number for handling registration payments, and Dr. M S Geetha proposed that the college should also provide awards, including the Prof. Vedamani Manuel award and awards for Ph.D. research scholars. Devaki Amma Memorial Training College, Chelambra agreed to contribute Rs. 10,000 to CTEF while Dr. V M Sasikumar, President, CEAM pledged Rs. 5000.

Agenda 2: Award manual and extension of date of announcement of Award application

The deadline for award applications was extended to 30th November 2024, with the announcement of winners scheduled for 15th January 2025. Dr. K S Sajan, NSS Training College, Ottapalam suggested updating award details on the CTEF website and incorporating a QR code or link into the brochure for ease of access. Candidates applying for awards will register through a Google Form, with their documents submitted as self-attested hard copies. The award manual, prepared by Dr. M.S. Geetha and Prof. (Dr.) Rajeshwari K, includes specific criteria and scoring for each award. It is divided into two sections: Part A covers basic candidate information, while Part B details the criteria for individual awards. The committee agreed to hold another online meeting to finalize the award manual and incorporate additional suggestions.

Agenda 3 :New Membership Campaign:

The executive members emphasised the need to actively promote the new membership campaign. Dr. M.S. Geetha proposed increasing the institutional membership fee from Rs. 2500 to Rs. 3000, pending approval at the general body meeting. Currently, CTEF has 43 institutional members, with PTM College of Education, Thiruvananthapuram and Sree Narayana Gurukripa B.EdCollege, Pothencode , Thiruvananthapuram recently joining. The membership fee for research scholars remains Rs. 500, though there was a discussion about offering life membership to research scholars once they transition into teacher educators. Dr. K S Sajan suggested streamlining the process by using an online Google Form for membership applications, which Dr. Premachandran P volunteered to add recently joined members.

Agenda 4: CTEF Fundraising Campaign:

Fundraising efforts were highlighted as critical for organizing the upcoming 25th-anniversary celebration and the CTEF Annual Convention without relying on external institutions for infrastructure support. The committee expressed gratitude to members who have already contributed, with Rs. 85,000 raised thus far. Dr. M S Geetha reiterated the importance of securing additional funds to ensure the smooth execution of the annual convention and future CTEF initiatives.

Agenda 5: Other Programs Organised by CTEF

Several colleges expressed interest in collaborating with CTEF on upcoming programs. Dr. M S Geetha also mentioned ongoing discussions for future collaborations. Buddha College of Teacher Education, Muthukulam organised a National seminar in collaboration with CTEF, Sree Narayana Training College, Nedunganda,Varkala will collaborate for Mathematics Day, and Peet Memorial Training College, Mavelikara will support a series of talks. Additionally, the international conference held in partnership with BNV College of Teacher Education, Thiruvallam was successfully concluded, while ITEP was conducted in collaboration with Mar Theophilus Training College, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram. An international Gender Education Seminar was conducted by Titus II Teachers College , Tiruvalla in collaboration with CTEF.

The committee is also working to finalize MoUs with interested institutions, with 43 colleges currently signed up. Dr. V.M. Sasikumar suggested clarifying and updating the list of colleges that have formalized MoUs with CTEF.

Agenda 6: Other Related Matters with the Permission of the Chair

Other Matters:

E-content Development: Dr. K S Sajan agreed to provide a platform for recording and distributing e-content, which could be shared in collaboration with CTEF member institutions.

Foreign Collaboration:Prof. Dr. Maya S proposed notifying the Ministry of External Affairs about the CTEF conference, particularly since foreign delegates will be participating. Prof. Dr. Nimmi Maria Oomen confirmed that since the current meeting is online, no immediate issues regarding foreign collaboration are expected.

Apology of Absence

Prof. (Dr.) K Y Benedict, Principal, Mother Theresa College of Education, Chelambra 

Conclusion:

The meeting concluded at 9:00 PM, with Dr. M.S. Geetha thanking the executive members for their active participation and contributions. Several action items were agreed upon, including the finalization of the convention brochure, the promotion of the fundraising campaign, and updates to the CTEF website regarding awards and memberships.

Date: 30th September 2024 Dr. M. S Geetha & Prof. Dr. Nimmi Maria Oommen

                                                             Chairman & General Secretary

              Prof. Dr. Nimmi Maria Oommen Dr. M.S. Geetha

      General Secretary, CTEF Chairman, CTEF