Four-Year Integrated B.Ed. Programme: A Critical Review

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 introduced the Four-Year Integrated Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) Programme as a landmark reform in teacher education, proposing it as the minimum qualification for school teachers by 2030. The programme aims to integrate disciplinary knowledge, pedagogical skills, and practical training within a single undergraduate framework. This paper presents a critical review of the Four-Year Integrated B.Ed. Programme by examining its objectives, structure, advantages, challenges, and implications for teacher education in India. The study is based on secondary data drawn from policy documents, reports, and scholarly literature. The findings indicate that while the programme has the potential to professionalize teacher education and enhance teaching quality, its success depends on institutional preparedness, faculty competence, and effective implementation mechanisms. Keywords: National Education Policy 2020, Teacher Education, Four-Year Integrated B.Ed., Professionalization, and Educational Reforms.