Pune: The government has decided to extend the deadline to enroll for the online Diploma in Elementary Education (DElEd) from September 15 to 30, as very few primary teachers from across the country have applied for the course.

However, according to Sunil Magar, Director, SCERT (State Council Educational Research and Training), most ‘untrained’ primary teachers in government and government-aided schools in Maharashtra have already applied for the course.

Around a month ago, the Union government made it clear that the course is mandatory for all primary school teachers and those who fail to do the course would be discontinued from service. 

Speaking to Sakal Times, Magar said, “I can only speak for teachers teaching at government and aided schools in Maharashtra. There were around 400 ‘untrained’ primary teachers in these schools, and out of these most have already applied for the course. As far as private schools are concerned, there may be more teachers who haven’t done the diploma, and yet have not enrolled even now. But even they wouldn’t be legally eligible to teach at primary schools without DElEd. from next year.”

While many school managements have expressed discontent over the rule saying that they have teachers who have completed Masters in Education and don’t need this diploma, Magar said that schools are bound to follow rules.  

“The rule is meant only for teachers in the primary section. So even if the teachers have done BEd or MEd, they still need to get this diploma in elementary education to be eligible to teach primary students,” Magar added.