NCTE Plans to Discontinue 4-Year BElEd Program by 2026, Initially Launched by DU

Launched in 1994 by Delhi University, the four-year BElEd program was India’s first integrated teacher education course for elementary education. However, it is unlikely to have new admissions in any of the current institutions offering the program.

The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has proposed ending the B.El.Ed (Bachelor of Elementary Education) program, a four-year degree in elementary teacher education. The recently released NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations, 2025, mentions that the BElEd program will be discontinued starting from the 2026-27 academic session, with no new admissions permitted in any of the current institutions offering the four-year program. The BElEd programme was first introduced by Delhi University in the year 1994. 

According to the draft regulations, colleges/universities recognized to teach the BElEd program will be allowed to continue enrolling students, provided they adopt the new Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) before the 2026-27 academic session begins, as reported by Indian Express. 

Recently, NCTE invited applications from the universities for transition from 4-year integrated programme to ITEP where institues who were willing to transit from the BA BEd or BSc BEd pogramme were allowed to apply online at ncte.gov.in. The authorities also informed that any institution not recognized by the NCTE that applies for transition will have its application rejected, and any fees paid will be non-refundable.

The NCTE Chairman announced that while admissions to the BElEd program will be allowed this year, no new admissions will be accepted from 2026 onward. He also highlighted that the council has proposed transitioning the B.El.Ed program into the Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP). 

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