Delhi CM's Claim On Forming First Teachers' University In India False
State and private universities have been providing teachers' education since 2008
Image taken from Arvind Kejriwal's twitter account
In a recent tweet, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that his government is going to establish India's first teachers' university. But his claim is false since there already exist established universities and colleges for teachers' education in the country.
"Delhi government will establish the country's first teachers' university this year. Where the best teachers of the country and the world will be trained and produced," he tweeted.
This is when universities like the Indian Institute of Teacher Education (IITE) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University in Chennai and Sabarmati University which was formerly known as Calorx Teachers' University in Ahmedabad, Gujarat have been providing teachers' education in India for years now.
Harshad Patel, vice-chancellor of IITE, refuted the CM's claim by tweeting that the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already established IITE in Gujarat in 2011 when he was the state's chief minister. However, it is to be noted that Harshad Patel's twitter account is not verified.
State universities and colleges providing teachers' education
The Indian Institute of Teacher Education (IITE), Gujarat
IITE which is located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, was established in 2010 by the then chief minister of the state Narendra Modi, according to the university's website. The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research (PhD) programmes for students. The current chancellor is Acharya Devvrat and the vice-chancellor is Harshad Patel.
Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, Tamil Nadu
The government of Tamil Nadu set up the Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University in Chennai in 2008 to provide excellence in teachers' education, as mentioned in the university's website. Currently, Banwarilal Purohit is its chancellor.
Sabarmati University, Gujarat
Sabarmati University, previously known as Calorx Teachers' University was formed in 2009. It was a state private university established by the state legislature of Gujarat Act No 8 which enables the state to set up a private university. It was further amended in 2019, its website shows.
Apart from universities that offer teachers' education, colleges have also been established to train teachers across the country. Delhi itself has four institutes -- National Institute of Teacher Education, Great Mission Teacher Training Institute, Department of Teacher Training and Non-formal education, Jamia Millia Islamia University and Asian College for Teachers.