Gone are the days when there was a huge demand for the DEd course and one had to score a minimum of 80 per cent to get through. Today, private DEd colleges are forced to shut down, thanks to lack of takers in the state.
According to the official records, 900 of the 985 DEd colleges have switched to other courses due to lack of students.
The managements allegedly blamed the recent policy of the state government that has made BEd compulsory for all higher primary teachers at government schools. The closure of Kannada medium schools in rural parts due to lack of students is another reason.
Sources said only 1,081 online applications have been received for DEd in the state this year. Over 50,000 DEd graduates, who are waiting for jobs, have been working in other sectors for low salaries. Over 90 per cent of DEd lecturers have also quit their jobs.
The District Institute of Educational and Training (DIET) run by the government, where 49 staff including 25 teaching faculty work, is also deserted. Of the 28 government DEd colleges, 23 have only four to 10 students.
Eshwaraiah, who was running a private DEd college, said private managements have no option but to shut down the colleges due to lack of students. Most of the teaching faculty have quit their jobs and joined private companies, as the managements failed to pay their salaries.
Principal of DIET P Padmanna said: “We cannot close the college citing shortage of students.