Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has re-launched teacher training programmes from the new semester, Autumn 2018 in line with the guidelines set by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The admissions in these programmes will remain open until September 5, it was announced on Sunday. The MEd one year comprises five categories, Elementary Teacher Education, Teacher Education, Distance & Non-Formal Education, Science Education and Special Education. The university has also offered one and a half year BEd programme, with eligibility of Masters/MSc qualification. BS or Bachelors second division are qualified to take admissions in the programme. Elementary education, secondary teacher education and science education four year-duration has also been offered. Eligibility for this programme is intermediate second division. According to the admissions director, curriculum and teaching pattern of the teaching-related programmes has been revised to ensure their quality, as per the directives of AIOU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Shahid Siddiqui. While reviewing the programmes, the university has been trying to make certain that their qualified teachers should be the best ones in the educational field, AIOU Education Dean Dr Nasir Mahmood said. The HEC has converted one-year BEd programme into four years on the basis of FA and FSc Education and the university was carrying its teaching programme accordingly. The AIOU is one of the leading universities in the country that offers Bed, PTC and CT since the very beginning and its beneficiaries are in thousands all over the country, particularly females. The university’s teaching programmes are the most popular in the country, with the highest enrollment, out of 1.3 million students. Published in Daily Times, August 6th 2018.