Professional education needs life time commitment and intensive training of four years' education such as the engineering, medical and law professions in keeping with the tradition of professional education, a new four-year program B.Ed. (Hons) is presented in the following pages. Program Introduction

In order to make teaching a profession of choice through implementing B.Ed (hons) program developed in 2006, it is imperative to revise the current curriculum to improve the teacher development program further. A teacher in the classroom needs to be competent in the content areas as well as in teaching strategies in order to ensure expected student learning outcomes. As in any profession teachers should be provided the opportunity to practice teaching through interacting with the school and community. In the clinical model of developing teachers as professionals, it is important for that prospective teacher to gain adequate insight into the ground realities of school and classrooms through their attachments in schools and communities.

This rich experience of practice enables prospective teachers to bring a positive attitude in classroom teaching and understanding a plurality of cultures. Practice teaching is a major and joint responsibility of teacher training institutions, schools involving teacher educators, prospective teachers and school teachers. Inclusion of short term training with long term teaching practice will provide an opportunity to prospective teachers to extend their role in the school situation other than classroom teaching.

During their short term teaching practice, prospective teachers can be engaged in administrative activities under supervision such as maintenance of school records and registers, management of laboratories and library, preparation of tests and assignments, admission and selection of students and classroom management, etc. Planning and carrying out an action research activity, engaging in courses like critical thinking and reflective practices, studying contemporary issues and trends in education and involvement of prospective teachers in practical/field work would greatly reduce isolation of the teacher and will develop the habit of inquiry into practice.

This breakthrough is expected to facilitate the process of multiculturalism and pluralism in our education system to bring about social transformation in the society. Hence, a blend of content and pedagogical courses has been provided in the scheme of studies - the two years of graduate courses and two years long professional courses to prepare prospective teachers as professionals in education.