D.El.Ed: Here’s what you need to know about this diploma course in elementary education

Primary teachers play a pivotal role in nurturing young minds, fostering curiosity, and building foundational skills. Their guidance lays the cornerstone for a lifelong love of learning and personal growth. However, appropriate training is crucial for aspiring primary school teachers so that they are equipped with essential pedagogical techniques, classroom management skills, and a deep understanding of child development. A course in elementary education empowers teachers to create engaging and effective learning environments, ensuring the best possible education for young students. This is exactly what the Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed), a 2-year-undergraduate course arms future primary school teachers with. It combines practical training in classroom instruction.
The course encompasses various aspects, including educational practices, principles of child development, and the role of a teacher in grooming the students and trains aspiring teachers to teach students from class I-VIII. The primary goal of elementary education is to address the fundamental learning needs of children in an inclusive school environment, while actively working to bridge social and gender disparities with strong community involvement.
What are the job opportunities?
With several governmental initiatives aimed at enhancing rural education and an attractive salary package, pursuing the D.El.Ed course presents a promising opportunity for prospective candidates. On completion of the course, candidates are eligible to be recruited as teachers in elementary schools and educational institutes teaching elementary education. The common job profiles are:

Additionally, there is scope for higher education after the completion of this course. Pursuing a B.Ed or M.Ed after D.El.Ed broadens the horizon of job avenues.
Who is eligible for the D.El.Ed course?
Admission to the course requires candidates to complete their 10+2 with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from any recognized board of education. There is a relaxation of 5% for the reserved and physically challenged categories. Candidates also need to clear the standard entrance examination, held by respective boards and organisations of different states and be in the age bracket of 18-35 years during the time of application. Applicants in the SC/ST/PH category are offered a relaxation of 5 Years.
What is the admission process?
As already mentioned, The D.El.Ed admission process starts with an entrance test which is followed by an interview for those who have cleared the entrance examination. Admission to the course is granted on the basis of the score in entrance exam as well as in 10+2 and performance in the interview round. The application for the entrance exam can be both online and offline. Some of the popular D.El.Ed entrance exams are ‘Andhra Pradesh Diploma in Elementary Education Common Entrance Test’ (AP DEECET), ‘State Council of Educational Research and Training’ (SCERT), ‘Diploma in Education’ (DED).
Some of the top colleges offering the D.El.Ed course include Chembur Sarvankash Shikshan Shastra Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai, Mahatma Junior College Of Education, Mumbai, Jamia Millia Islamia University-[JMI], Delhi, Pradeep Memorial Comprehensive College Of Education -[PMCCE], New Delhi, Sri Ram Institute Of Teacher Education, Delhi, George Group Of Colleges, Kolkata, Integral University, Lucknow, Bhagwati College Of Education, Meerut and Madhav Shiksha Mahavidyalaya, Gwalior, among others.
D.El.Ed entrance exam at a glance
The syllabus includes primarily the subjects studied at school such as Mathematics and Numerical Ability, General Knowledge, English, Teaching Abilities, Language Test (Hindi or regional language). The exam is an objective-based written test with multiple choice answers. The exam duration varies from state to state.
How much does the course cost?
The course fees vary depending on the institution. In government colleges, the annual cost typically falls within the range of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000, whereas private institutes may charge considerably more, with fees ranging from Rs. 15,000 per year to as much as Rs. 25,000 per year.
What is taught in the D.El.Ed course?
This two-year UG programme arms would-be teachers with the skills and knowledge required to educate elementary-level learners. The focal points of the syllabus include contemporary society, childhood and the development of children, towards understanding the self (personal development, life skills, pedagogy of English language, guidance and counselling, cognition and sociocultural context, pedagogy of environmental studies, leadership and change, fine arts and education, school health and education.