Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma has informed that the District Institute of Education & Training (DIET), Nongstoiñ has been identified by the Ministry of Education under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan as one of the Centres of Excellence (CoE) for the year 2024-25.
With this recognition, the institute will be upgraded in terms of infrastructure and other civil works, Sangma told the House today.
“With this proposed expansion, it will align with the CoE aspiration, addressing the infrastructure limitations, ensuring quality education with additional staffing, exploring the possibility of introducing the Four Year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) in order to meet the growing demand of qualified teachers in the Region,” he said.
Sangma also informed that the State government will be submitting the Detail Project Report (DPR) after obtaining clearance of submission from the ministry. Under the ADB Project, another classroom will be constructed at the institute, which will address to the needs and aspirations of the students, teachers and educators.
Earlier Sangma said the DIET caters to student teachers of West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Eastern West Khasi Hills districts. Since its inception, the number of seats for the D.El.Ed course is 50 which is in accordance with the approved intake capacity granted by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), he added.
Sangma informed that the existing infrastructure is not adequate for any additional intake because as per the NCTE Norms, for any additional intake of one unit of D.El.Ed will require additional built up area of 500 Sqm.
According to him as per the NCTE norms, the existing intake (50 seats) cannot be increased due to the fact that permission was granted for one unit only (50 seats) since inception.
He further informed that the State government will approach the NCTE for an additional intake after norms laid down were met.
