There has recently been a move which is sure to have immediate and long lasting repercussions on the teaching fraternity in Karnataka State. This move, if implemented, is to make PUC teachers (who already have post graduation degrees) do their BEd educational degrees as well.

One may know that BEd wasn't compulsory for PUC teachers before, since it was felt that this teaching methodology degree was essential only for schoolteachers. Now, however, the idea in some quarters is that BEd should be made mandatory for PUC teachers as well, as this move would make them more effective as educators. If this move comes into effect, a time period has been stipulated for the PUC teachers when it would become compulsory for them to apply and complete their BEd degrees.

This infers that if they want to do it while they are still working (an option most will prefer); they would have to do it either by correspondence or externally.

What this also implies is that these essentially overburdened teachers would have to complete their preparations, corrections and teaching assignments in their PUC colleges and on top of that, do a few hours of study for their BEd courses every day. This would be an arduous procedure for them when one considers that teaching is a very strenuous job where the teachers are expected to teach huge classes of students which calls for display of much energy, concentration and hard work. The PUC teachers would be extremely overtaxed if they were also expected to don the garb of being BEd trainees as well.

Since most BEd teachers are women, they have the incumbent duties of being family members where they would have to perform domestic duties besides their teaching jobs, which is verily like walking a tightrope. They would have to maintain an emotional balance in their duties in both the family and work. If, apart from their hectic schedules, they are expected to also do their BEd degrees, one can well imagine the amount of tension these overburdened and overtaxed teachers would have to bear.

Realising these exigencies, some of the PUC teachers have gone on a protest asserting that postgraduate degrees are more than enough while teaching PUC students and that the BEd degrees are essential only for schoolteachers who are dealing with much younger students.

What is the other side of the story? Is it deemed that PUC teachers need necessarily BEd degrees to be considered effective educators? Why has this proposal (for instituting BEd training) been deemed mandatory (for PUC teachers)? Supporters for BEd training reiterate that PUC students are just out of school and their education at that stage is crucial for getting admission in professional colleges. This, they infer, can be achieved by making the PUC teachers effective communicators who deliver the goods efficiently.

According to the teaching training institutions, there is a vast difference between BEd trained and non-BEd trained teachers. Being a BEd trained teacher would probably make a world of difference for the students who being just out of school would require not distant lecturing to but simplified and interesting teaching which is done with plenty of colourful audio-visual teaching aids, which has proved to be effective, interesting and helpful to students in the long-range plans of education.

It is widely known that in BEd training colleges, teacher-trainees are taught the methodology and technique of teaching effectively and efficiently by inculcating not just the "what" of teaching, but also the "how" of teaching. The teacher-trainees are taught keeping in mind that they would eventually have to teach immature, raw and callow youth. These teachers are trained to gauge and assess exactly how students' minds and mentalities work, and what therefore should be the best methodology of imparting information.

Training also helps those teacher-trainees who are not "born teachers" but want to make it their career. With such a positive attitude, it is not surprising that even teachers with not much talent but plenty of enthusiasm, determination and hard work can make the grade and they can excel.

It may not be out of place to say here that it has been empirically proved that teachers who have spent one year doing BEd have made better teachers than teachers who have done their post graduation (but without a BEd). It has also been proven that trained teachers produce better examination results in the students than what untrained even brilliant lecturers have done.

According to the BEd degree supporters, the PUC students are too soon out of school to expect them to be just given lectures by lecturers. The concept of teaching via lectures can be successful with older degree students who are sufficiently mature and independent in their thinking processes and who, therefore, do not need simplified classes. The gist of all this is that, according to this school of thought, it is felt that making PUC teachers do their BEd degrees would improve the quality of education for PUC students at a crucial time.

Having been in the teaching fraternity for over 15 years and having postgraduate and BEd degrees, my stand would be that PUC teachers should get BEd qualifications, but should not be pressurised. Instead, they should be made to attend to the training during their vacations so that they are not overburdened.

Maybe after the ensuing elections when a proper Government is established in the state, discussions with eminent educationists and thinkers can be held to ascertain the most judicious and practical solution to the problem.