D.Ed

DEd or Diploma in Education is a certificate level teacher training programme that equips candidates to become nursery school teachers. The course basically caters to elementary level education in India and is an important job-oriented programme in the field of education. 

Depending on the university/ college in which a candidate applies for admission, duration of DEd course varies from one to three years. The minimum duration to complete the course also varies from institute to institute. The course, however, is available as a both full-time and part-time programme.

Admission to DEd programme is usually offered on the basis of candidates’ performance in the written entrance test conducted at university/ institute level. However, some institutions also offer direct admission to candidates on the basis of merit. The merit list is prepared by the officials on the basis of candidates’ marks in Class 12th exams.  

Given below is everything you need to know about DEd in terms of its required skillset, eligibility criteria, course curriculum, job prospects and more.

To meet eligibility criteria for DEd programme candidates should clear Class 12th in any stream from a recognised board with minimum 50% - 60% aggregate marks.

Note: The eligibility criteria mentioned above might vary depending on the higher education institution in which a candidate is applying.

Required Skillset for D.Ed

Candidates aspiring to build their career in elementary school teaching should possess the below-mentioned traits and skillset:

Subjects that are typically taught in DEd course are as mentioned below:

It may be noted that the subjects mentioned above include both theory as well as practical subjects.

Elementary education is imperative for the development of a better society and DEd helps in achieving just the same. Candidates who successfully complete DEd course come out as skilled and qualified elementary school teachers. Such teachers can find employment opportunities at any institute imparting elementary education such as government schools, private schools, private tuition centres, day care centres, and so on.   

Such candidates can work in capacities such as:

• Teacher: An elementary school teacher’s main job is to implement procedures and manage classroom functions. Along with this, the teacher also teaches the prescribed curriculum and assist students in achieving lesson objectives.
• Writer: Candidates can also choose to become writers for elementary education. They can write articles, books, reports, etc for different organisations.  
• Teacher Assistant: A teacher assistant is responsible for reinforcing lessons presented by teachers by reviewing material with students. The assistant also enforces school and class rules to help the teacher teach students proper behavior. Apart from this, the assistant also helps teachers with tasks like tracking attendance and calculating grades.
• Home Tutor: A home tutor provides one-on-one educational assistance to elementary school students. The tutor works with students to improve their skills in certain subjects. S/he also prepares lessons and assigns as well as corrects homework.  
• Education Coordinator: An education coordinator focuses on quality control. S/he applies his/ her knowledge of learning theory to develop curriculum that offers core competencies required of students.

Q: Which are the best colleges to pursue DEd?

A: According to popularity, the top colleges offering DEd are University of Mumbai, UPRTOU, HGM Azam College of Education, Amity University, Noida, Pune Institute, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) etc. You can click on DEd Colleges in India to know more.

Q: Can I do DEd and graduation together?

A: Yes, you can do so by pursuing DEd in regular mode and BA or any other bachelor programme in distance mode or vice-versa.

Q: Can you suggest some DEd Distance Education Colleges in India?

A: Some of the colleges that offer DEd through distance mode are Prabhat Jyotirmoyee College of Education, Seema DEd College.

Q: Is it possible to complete DEd in one year?

A: The duration of DEd programme varies from one to three years, depending from one institute to another. You can select the college/university that offers the programme for one year.

Q: Can I apply for the course in Class 11th?

A: No, a candidate should have passed Class 12 while applying for the programme. In case the announcement of Class 12 result is pending, he/she is eligible to apply. They'll be required to present the certificate and Class 12 marksheet once the result is announced.

Q: Do we get any practical training for teaching during the course?

A: Yes, students are provided teaching training ranging from 15 days to a month during the programme. AMU offers 15 days teaching training to all its DEd students.

Q: What is the course fee for DEd?

A: Cost of DEd programme ranges anywhere between Rs 15,000 and 70,000 per annum. 

Q: Are there any entrance exams for DEd?

A: Yes, students can appear for certain exams like Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET), Maharashtra DEd CET, etc.

Q: Specify some books that I can refer for DEd programme.

A: You can refer books like Human Development by Asha Singh, Advanced Educational Psychology by S. Dandapani, Child Development by Laura E. Berk, etc.

Q: What is the syllabus for DEd course?

A: You can refer to the topics below to know the DEd syllabus in general:

Q: After completing the programme, do I need some other certification also to work as a school teacher?

A: No, you will be required to show the certificate obtained after completing the course and sit for interviews in schools.