New Delhi: The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has launched an investigation into alleged irregularities at three BEd colleges in Madhya Pradesh, dispatching a five-member fact-finding committee that could recommend strict action, including de-recognition of the institutions.
The committee, constituted on July 15, was formed following media reports alleging questionable practices at three colleges affiliated with Barkatullah University. During preliminary checks, authorities also identified a fourth college operating from the same premises, raising concerns over fake locations and inadequate infrastructure.
The team reached Madhya Pradesh on July 17 and immediately began inspections.
The panel is headed by H.C.S. Rathore, former Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of South Bihar, and includes Ashima Mangla of the University Grants Commission (UGC), two directors from the Ministry of Education, a nominee of the Madhya Pradesh government, and NCTE Regional Director Wg Cdr Vijay Rana.
Over the coming days, the committee will carry out detailed physical inspections using geo-tagged photographs and videos to document the actual conditions at the institutions.
The team will examine infrastructure, laboratories, land records, faculty strength and compliance with NCTE norms. It will also compare on-site findings with documents and Performance Appraisal Reports (PARs) submitted by the colleges to verify whether they meet the requirements of the NCTE Act and its regulations.
NCTE said it is treating the matter with utmost seriousness and warned that any violations would invite strict punitive action after a comprehensive review.
"This is viewed as a serious lapse," the regulatory body said, adding that institutions found violating norms would face stringent consequences.
The formation of the high-powered committee underscores NCTE's effort to restore credibility to teacher education programmes. The outcome of the probe is being closely watched, as it could set a precedent for similar inspections across the country and lead to wider reforms in the regulation and monitoring of BEd colleges.
With IANS inputs