Introduction

 

For the purpose of achieving quality education and to remove the backlog of untrained teachers and with the implementation of National Policy of Education (N.P.E.) in 1986, the District Institute of Education and Training were established all over the country. In Meghalaya also, DIETs were set up in all Districts on the recommendation of the National Council of Teacher Education (N.C.T.E.) mainly to provide services in the areas like training, resource support and research in Education.

DIET, Sohra is one such Institute set up in Meghalaya. It is located at Saitsohpen, which is about 53 Kms from the State capital Shillong. This Institute was started in September 2000 and it became operationalised in 2001.

In the beginning, the Institute catered to the educational needs of the teachers of East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi Districts. However, with the creation of Ri-Bhoi District and the establishment of two more DIETs at Nongpoh and Nongstoin in 2005, DIET, Sohra began to cater to the educational needs of teachers serving in East Khasi hills District only. The course is offered only to pre-service trainees who satisfies certain prescribed conditions laid down by the Directorate of Educational Research and Training (D.E.R.T.) mandating them to secure a minimum of 45% and above in their H.S.S.L.C. examination and must be below 27yrs of age during the time of application into the said course.

It received its initial recognition from the NCTE for an annual intake of 60 students vide Letter No.ERC/7-22/2002/539 (4), Dated 15th February, 2002. In 2016, the NCTE granted permission to DIET, Sohra vide F.No.224.1.2/ERCAPP2083/D.El.Ed. (Addl.Intake)/2016/49930, Date 07/11/2016 for conducting D.El.Ed (Addl.Intake) Course of two year duration with an additional intake of 40 students,thus making the total intake of 100 (one hundred) from the academic session 2017 – 2018 under Clause 7 (16) of NCTE (Recognition Norms and Procedure) Regulations, 2014.

Examinations at the end of the sessions were formerly conducted by the Meghalaya Board of School Education till 2004. But, from 2005-2006 academic sessions, the Directorate of Educational Research and Training (D.E.R.T.) have taken over the same from the Meghalaya Board of School Education (M.B.O.S.E). Till 2005, the duration for the training Programme is one year, but since then, the programme course has been extended to two years.

The Principal of DIET Sohra is also the District Level Co-ordinator for all types of Large Scale Assessment conducted by the Ministry of Education from time to time (NAS/SLAS/SEAS etc). DIET Sohra is also responsible for conducting In-Service Training to Teachers of all stages including ECCE Teachers in different subjects and burning topics in School Education within the District. It is the only agency at the District Level to provide better quality Teacher Education in the State at the Elementary level.