The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) that was established in 1995 has been constantly working on developing a planned and coordinated environment for the training of teachers across the country. According to the report of the Justice Verma committee in 2012, many changes have been made to the National Education Policy, which has also focused on teacher training programs in India. In the report, it has been mentioned that B.Ed. students are not attending their classes properly which can be because of lack of inspiration, lack of institutional infrastructure, lack of faculty quality, and other factors. In view of these challenges, such institutions are required to look not only at providing the required study materials and conducting exams but also adopt an approach that motivates students to attend their classes and study and also avail their teacher training skills to excel in life. This is exactly what ABC College of Education from Neora, Patna, Bihar established in 2016 and affiliated to Patliputra University, Patna, aims to achieve. It has provided all the required amenities and facilities so that students feel interested and motivated about coming to the institution and pursuing the degree.

The college provides a healthy environment for students in all kinds of enrichment and outreach programs. It gives importance to various co-curricular activities in which students can participate and explore their talents. The college also organizes regular educational & motivational seminars, workshops, guest lectures, value-added courses, and personality development classes for students to foster a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and critical thinking to apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios and prepare them for successful careers. ABC College of Education has established facilities for various kinds of indoor and outdoor games & sports activities.

“Through this approach, we want to provide holistic development to our students. We focus on the aspects that are required for students to crack the teacher competitive examinations like CTET/STET by providing extra classes and adding to the university syllabus and creating an overall curriculum,” mentioned Dr. Niraj Kumar Singh, Principal, ABC College of Education.

Latest Technology in Use

The institution focuses immensely on the adoption of the latest technologies in the learning infrastructure. The importance of online classes have increased globally post-COVID and it is imperative that all aspiring teachers are aware of the latest innovations taking place in teaching processes. The more we are going ahead in time, the more the education system is moving away from traditional techniques and reimagining teaching methods. ABC College of Education has a Wi-Fi-enabled campus with CCTV cameras surveillance and defined setups for online classes. The opportunity to learn about the latest technology-based teaching methods are an add-on advantage for the students because many B.Ed. colleges do not possess the latest technologies to support such an initiative. “We concentrate on making our students learn about the technologies through the ICT resource center & Smart Board and also create lesson plans accordingly,” stated Dr. Niraj Singh.

Experienced & Knowledgeable Faculty

The institution has 23 experienced faculties and the principal guiding the students to success. All the faculties of the institution are well qualified and fulfill the eligibility criteria as mentioned by NCTE & Patliputra University Patna. Before the start of the new session, the yearly academic plan is prepared by collaborative discussion among the principal and the faculties. Each faculty has to prepare their lesson plans for the entire year and submit them to the committee. They need to transact knowledge to the students exactly according to the given plan and compulsorily include 2-3 online classes through PPT, Projector, Smart Board, etc. in a week. The college has a well-stocked library which contains not only textbooks but also journals, encyclopedias, newspapers, magazines, and other reference books. This defined process of imparting education acts as a wonder for the institution. To cater to the diverse needs of students the college has various cells and committees.

We focus on the aspects that are required for students to crack the teacher competitive examinations like CTET/STET by providing extra classes & adding to the university syllabus & creating an overall curriculum

The college also has a placement cell of its own which is active throughout the year. It provides job opportunities for students passing out with relevant opportunities in schools located in Patna and other nearby regions. “Schools from nearby regions get in touch with our placement cell and submit their requirements. Apart from placing them in private institutions, we have also guided and helped students with government jobs. Last year our approximately 70 B.Ed. students selected in Bihar Govt. Teacher Recruitment under TGT/PGT post”, said by Principal.

Looking Ahead

ABC College of Education has been able to gain trust in the education sector and has been able to provide holistic support to students aspiring to become teachers in India. It organizes an annual alumni meet without fail each year where established students of the institution can come and provide mentorship and advice to the current batch of aspirants. It has also provided government scholarships to students from the SC/ST and OBC categories. In case of a weak financial background, the institution provides free educational material and a free bus facility to candidates and also has a wheelchair facility for disabled students. “In the coming years we want to establish an M.Ed. wing for the institution so that we are able to provide students with higher education in case they are aspiring to go for it”, concluded the Principal.