Teacher Prep in Mumbai

Posted: August 1st, 2013 | Author: Michael Goldstein | | No Comments »

From the New York Times:

Regarding the Indian system in general, she said that “there’s a disconnect between teacher education and schools, because there’s no connection between theory and practice.”

Muktangan’s biggest obstacle has been its inability to get government accreditation for its teacher education program, a requirement under India’s Right to Education Act. Failure to comply can result in withdrawal of government financing and of official recognition. But to qualify, Muktangan needs, for example, a separate physical building for teacher training.

“Everyone in Delhi has shown us that they believe in the quality of our education for teacher training, but we can’t check any of the boxes on the forms,” Mrs. Mehta said.

Having started a new graduate school of education myself, I recall facing exactly the same issues.

Bureaucracy stifling innovation?  Check.  We squeezed through, thanks to help from a few key officials who were sympathetic to our cause.