COIMBATORE: The faculty members of the Government College of Education For Women in Coimbatore have alleged that the district school education department refuses to send government school students to attend the practical examination of Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) course students.
They said that B.Ed students should showcase their teaching abilities to school students in front of an external examiner during the practical examination.
A teaching staff told TNIE, “Following Tamil Nadu Teacher Education University (TNTEU) announcement that practical examination would be conducted in March, we approached the Chief Educational Officer (CEO) R Balamurali seeking permission to send government school students to our college for the practical examination of second-year B.Ed students.”
“However, the CEO said that he cannot send government school students to the college. Instead of this, the CEO suggested that the practical examination be conducted at the CCMA government higher secondary school (Woman) at Raja Street. Meanwhile, the practical examination was postponed by the TNTEU. However, the university is planning to conduct the practical examination for the students in July. But, as the CEO refuses to give permission, it will be a challenge to conduct the practical examination to B.Ed students,” he said.
CEO Balamurali told TNIE that considering student safety, they cannot send students outside and he said that practical exams can be conducted in the classroom at school.
But another faculty member told TNIE that up until the previous year, approximately 30 students from CCMA School participated in the practical examination.
He recalled that earlier they had provided transport facilities and students also came with their teachers to this examination.
“Practical examination should be conducted at the colleges only as per norm and it cannot be conducted at school as per the CEO’s wish,” the faculty member said.
“Therefore, the TNTEU should resolve this matter by issuing guidelines regarding student participation in practical exams through the school education department,” he further urged.