Thiruvananthapuram: The Higher education department has decided to combine the B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) course with the degree course. An expert committee has been formed to prepare the curriculum for the integrated teacher education course.

Former PVC of the National University of Singapore, Dr Mohan B Menonis the chairman of the six-member committee. The committee will submit a proposal to the government on how the four-year integrated course can be implemented. Efforts are underway to introduce this the next academic year onwards.

Currently, the B.Ed course is a two-year long programme. This duration will be brought down to one year along with the three-year degree course.  This reform is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020). 

With this reform, B.Ed colleges will cease to exist. It is proposed to merge such institutions with other colleges. There are 187 B.Ed colleges in the state, including four government colleges. Colleges under the same management may be merged. 

Since most of the B.Ed colleges are self-financing institutions, there is a chance that many of them will be shut once this reform comes into place.