Demand up for special teachers

The Government Teachers Training Centre for Visually Handicapped and Hearing Handicapped in Tilak Nagar is in great demand after a landmark judgment from Delhi High Court. This centre conducts a two-year D Ed course for special teachers.

The demand for trained special teachers increased after the Delhi HC passed an order for appointing special teachers in Delhi schools. The demand went up further after the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) granted approval to B Ed ( special education) and to D Ed courses.

The training centre is getting requests for special teachers from private schools and NGOs. However, the centre complains that the students are absorbed well before the completion of their course.

States like Delhi and Rajasthan have already started the process of recruiting special teachers after the court verdict. The state government is also planning to fill the vacant special teachers' posts at various schools.

The special teachers training centre in Tilak Nagar is the only centre in the state of offer D Ed (special education) under department of empowerment of differently abled and senior citizens, Government of Karnataka.

The Helen Keller Government Teachers Training Centre for Visually Handicapped (primary level) was started in 2000-2001, while Government teachers training centre for Hearing Handicapped (primary level) was started in 2001-02.

Keshavamurthy, in-charge deputy director of the centre said, "Duration of each course is 2 years. Candidates with minimum 50% in PUC are eligible for the course and not more then 25 are admitted for each course." From its inception, the centre has produced 500 special teachers. These teachers are already working in different special schools and NGOs in the state. The government has set up special schools in Mysore, Bellary, Hubli, Davanagere and Belgaum apart from private schools.

Opportunities for successful candidates from the training centre are plenty. They can work as special teachers, resource teachers in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, field workers in DDRC, MRW, VRW and as home-based teachers at rural level.

The selection of candidates is based on common entrance test conducted by Rehabilitation Council of India, New Delhi. Admissions for these courses are through All India Online Aptitude Test.