BEd vs BTC: Supreme Court Upholds Rajasthan High Court’s Decision, Only BTC Diploma Holders Eligible for Primary School Teachers

BEd vs BTC: The Supreme Court has delivered a verdict on the matter of BEd (Bachelor of Education) and BTC (Basic Training Certificate) degrees, stating that teachers cannot be appointed in primary schools solely based on a BEd degree. The decision was announced while hearing a petition filed by the Central Government. During the proceedings, the Supreme Court upheld the previous decision of the Rajasthan High Court. This decision has come as a significant setback for BEd aspirants across the country.

On Friday, the Supreme Court rejected the petition filed by the Central Government and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), affirming the correctness of the Rajasthan High Court’s ruling. Following this verdict, only holders of BTC (Basic Training Certificate) diplomas will be eligible for the Level-1 recruitment examination for third-grade teachers in primary schools. It’s important to note that the Rajasthan High Court had earlier invalidated a notification that recognized BEd degree holders as eligible for teaching positions from classes one to five. The Supreme Court has now also endorsed this decision.

In the BEd vs BTC case, the Supreme Court has reached a verdict. In its decision, the Supreme Court has endorsed the arguments and findings presented by the Rajasthan High Court. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, individuals aspiring to become teachers in primary schools will only be deemed eligible if they possess a BEd degree. To teach in primary schools, it will now be mandatory to hold a BTC/DElEd (Diploma in Elementary Education) degree.

In essence, the controversy began after a notification issued by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) in the year 2018. According to this notification, BEd degree holders were deemed eligible for the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET) Level 1 examination, on the condition that they undergo a six-month bridge course if they pass the exam. The Rajasthan government had declared BEd aspirants ineligible for recruitment in primary schools. Following the government’s decision, BEd aspirants approached the Rajasthan High Court, which upheld the government’s policy. Subsequently, the aspirants appealed to the Supreme Court, where a bench led by Justice Aniruddha Bose upheld the Rajasthan High Court’s decision.

It’s worth mentioning that this entire dispute emerged after notification by NCTE in the year 2021 regarding the REET. However, this time the government allowed BEd degree holders to take the exam under the condition that they would accept the decision if the court ruled against them. In September 2022, after the exam took place, BTC aspirants began to protest against this decision, leading the case to reach the Rajasthan High Court. The Rajasthan High Court ruled in favor of BTC candidates in this case. Following this decision, BEd degree holders opposed the High Court’s ruling and filed a petition in the Supreme Court. Today, the Supreme Court has issued its verdict, upholding the Rajasthan High Court’s decision.