National Seminar on Quality Concerns in Teacher Education - School of Education, 6 and 7 February 2014

It is a well-known fact that India has been blessed with a youthful population, but in order to channelize this blessing as an effective resource we must look into our education system. The role of teacher, in this context becomes quite prominent. But does the current system of teacher training programmes inculcate the competencies required by an individual to function as an effective teacher?  To look into this very issue the School of Education, Christ University has organised a two day National Seminar on ‘Quality Concerns in Teacher Education’.

The National Seminar was inaugurated by the chief guest Dr. Vasanth D. Bhatt, Dean of instruction RIE Mysore in the presence of Col. Dr Fr Thomas C Mathew, Vice Chancellor Christ University, Dr Katre Shakuntala, Former Dean of Science, Bangalore University, Fr T V Thomas, Director School of Education, Prof. Mallika Krishnaswami, Dean Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof. Jose Cherian, HOD School of Education, Prof Prakasha GS, Convener of the seminar along with all the delegates, participants, faculty members and students of the School of Education, Christ University.

 

Following the invocation and lighting of the lamp, welcome speech by HOD and the presidential address by Vice Chancellor; Dr Vasanth D Bhatt addressed the audience in an engaging inaugural speech in which he presented his reflections on quality concerns in teacher education. The compendium was released by Vice Chancellor Col. Dr Fr Thomas C Mathew after which Prof. Shakuntala Katre gave the keynote address, Prof. Katre presented an extensive review on quality concerns in teacher education. She spoke about important issues such as emerging national and social priorities, strategies to improve pre-service teacher training, the need for educational leadership and management. 

The National seminar had 38 paper presenters out of which 30 presenters were from various parts of India such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andra Pradesh, Noida and Pondichery. The plenary sessions were conducted in two rooms simultaneously on subthemes of the seminar. There were 10 plenary sessions conducted in total on both days along with a panel discussion on second day morning. The theme of panel discussion was ‘Quality concern issues in Teacher education’. Dr Kennedy Andrew Thomas, Director TQMS was a moderator and panellists were Dr Ganesha Batta, Principal MES teacher’s college, Dr S Srikantaswamy, Additional Director Center for research and Dr Sudhakar, former Director, UGC Academic Staff College. The panelists spoke on topics like Training the Teachers for Classroom Managment by Dr Srikanta Swamy and Dr Sudhakar spoke on internship in Teacher education and Dr Ganesha Batta spoke on general issues of Teacher Education. 

Some of the significant concerns discussed during plenary sessions were; ICT to be integrated in every aspect of teacher education, developing teaching competency as a quality indicator, principles of class room management to enhance quality, life skills training for teachers and integrating multiple intelligence in teaching-learning.

The National seminar was concluded with a valedictory ceremony presided over by Fr T V Thomas, Director School of Education. Prof Prakasha Convener of National Seminar gave the Seminar report following which certificates were given to all the delegates.