Elementary education is very crucial for developing human resource which in turn promotes the growth of economy. Now the Union Government has introduced a constitution amendment Bill in the Parliament for making the elementary education a fundamental right. Though there have been expansion of educational facilities at all the levels since independence, we are yet to achieve the performance in the elementary education. The reasons for this slow down growth in this regard are as following:
1. Teacher’s performance in schools.
2. Poverty
3. Illiteracy of parents.
4. Teachers low morale and motivation.
5. Student’s absenteeism.
District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) was set up in the country with a view to improve the quality of elementary education. It was envisaged that the DIET would provide pre-service as well as in-service education to all the elementary teachers in the districts. A DIET is charged with the responsibility of educational development of its catchment area (district). Besides providing pre-service and in-service teacher education, DIETs are required to provide training. A DIET has seven academic branches having different roles and function, as per the direction of MHRD.
The functioning of a DIET involves providing academic and resource support to achieve universal of elementary education and improve quality of elementary education non-formal education and adult education and strengthening elementary teacher trainings. Other functions include
1. Conducting training of both induction and continuing level for elementary school teachers, head teachers, heads of school complexes, clusters.
2. Providing academic and resource support to the elementary schools in the district by organizing various activities and developing locally relevant materials, teaching aids, TLMs, SLMs evaluation toots etc.
3. Conducting action research and experimentation to deal with specific problems relating to universal elementary education.
It is necessary that DIET may establish close cooperation and continuing dialogue with the field to fully involve local expertise and local resources for overall educational development of the district. DIET may undertake micro planning, field studies and adopt area specific approach for identifying and tackling specific problems through action research, experimentation and other suitable measures. It is desired to promote innovations in methodology of teaching, revision of curriculum, text books and teaching materials etc. DIETs should develop a rich and ever growing library having a variety of books, magazines, TLMS and gadgets and acts as an educational resource Centre in the district. It should try to exploit media intervention both electronic as well as print for achieving its targets and educational ends.
As SSA ( Sarva Siksha Abhiyan) is a district based project, its quality issues need to be undertaken by DIETs. All the trainings need to be conducted by concerned DIETs. Academic and technical support should be provided by DIETs to the SSA officials at district level as well as Zonal level. DIET has to play a dynamic role in providing quality elementary education to all children. Since education is the corner store of human resource development, contribution of the DIET is likely to lead to all round development of the district.