The Supreme Court's recent ruling states that individuals holding a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree are not eligible for primary school teacher positions. The decision comes from the case of Devesh Sharma v. Union of India and others.

Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia upheld the Rajasthan High Court's decision to overturn a 2018 National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) notification that permitted B.Ed candidates to become primary school teachers.

The Court clarified that a B.Ed qualification is not suitable for teaching at the primary level (classes I to V). The NCTE's move to include B.Ed as a requirement for primary school teachers was deemed arbitrary and unreasonable, lacking relevance to the goal of providing "quality" education as mandated by the Right to Education Act. The Court highlighted that elementary education is a fundamental right under Article 21A of the Constitution and emphasized the importance of recruiting highly qualified teachers to ensure quality education.

The Supreme Court pointed out that according to NCTE norms, a Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed.) is the necessary qualification for primary teacher positions. The Court argued that D.El.Ed. holders are trained specifically to handle students at this level, while B.Ed holders are trained for secondary and higher secondary education. The flawed NCTE notification was influenced by a communication from the Central government, which sought to address a shortage of candidates for primary teacher posts, particularly in Kendriya Vidyalayas.

The Court asserted that B.Ed and D.El.Ed qualifications cannot be equated and highlighted the requirement for B.Ed qualified teachers to undergo a pedagogical course for elementary classes within two years of their appointment. The decision to include B.Ed as a qualification was not an independent choice by the NCTE, but rather a directive from the Central government, which the Court deemed contrary to the purpose of the Right to Education Act.

The Supreme Court's decision dismissed the appeals made by the NCTE, certain B.Ed candidates, eligible D.El.Ed holders, and the Union government. The case was argued by various senior advocates representing B.Ed qualified candidates, D.El.Ed holders, and the Rajasthan government, as well as Additional Solicitors General representing the Central government.

Case Title: Devesh Sharma v. Union of India and others