ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF DIET

1. ROLE AND FUNCTIONS OF D.I.E.T. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HINDOL COLLEGE KHAJURIAKATA Presented by – ITISHREE BEHERA +3 3rd year arts Roll No- BA23-47 DATE:-19 . 09. 2025

2. INTRODUCTION:- By the time of adoption of the NPE, elementary and adult education systems were already too vast to be adequately supported by national and State level agencies alone. The NPE implied their further expansion as also considerable qualitative improvement. Provision of support to them in a decentralized manner had therefore become imperative. The NPE and POA accordingly envisaged addition of a third-district level-tier to the support system in the shape of District institutes of Education and Training (DIETS). With this, expectation would be of wider quantitative coverage as well as qualitatively better support as these Institutes would be closer to the field, and therefore more alive to its problems and needs. Pursuant to the provisions of NPE on teacher education, a Centrally sponsored Scheme of Restructuring and Reorganization of Teacher Education was approved in October 1987. One of the five components of the Scheme was establishment of DIETS. Draft guidelines for implementing the DIET component were circulated to States in October 1987 and have, together with certain subsequent circulars, formed the basis for its implementation so far. Till October 1989, Central assistance had been sanctioned under the Scheme for setting up a total of 216 DIETS in the country.

3. OBJECTIVES OF DIETS:- To provide academic and resource support at the grass-roots level for the success of the various strategies and programmes being undertaken in the areas of elementary and adult education, with special reference to the following objectives: Role in Elementary Education Universalisation of Primary/Elementary Education. Adult Education NLM targets in regard to functional literacy in the 15-35 age group. The above is a general mission statement. It will have to be translated into specific goals for the DIET, so as to suit the needs of individual states and districts, and will be ultimately operationalized through specific performance norms set for individual DIETS.

4. District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) are district-level academic institutions that serve as resource and guidance centers for elementary and adult education, primarily focusing on teacher training (both pre-service and in-service), material development, action research, and implementing educational policies. Their main goal is to enhance the quality of primary and adult education at the grassroots level through academic support, practical field studies, and by providing essential resources and training to teachers and educational functionaries. 

5. Roles and Functions of DIET: Teacher Training: • Conducts both pre-service and in-service training programs for primary school teachers.  • Provides need-based, short-term, and long-term training to support professional and leadership development for teachers.  • Trains functionaries involved in non-formal (NFE) and adult education. 

6. Resource and Material Development: • Develops quality learning materials and resources for elementary education.  • Provides academic support and resources to schools at the district level.  Research and Innovation: • Carries out field-based empirical studies and action research to improve the functioning of primary schools.  • Conducts innovations for enhancing the quality of primary education.  Policy Implementation and Planning: • Coordinates and implements government policies at the district level to promote Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE).  • Supports district authorities in educational planning. 

7. Community Engagement: • Engages with the community and serves as a resource center for educational initiatives at the district level.  • Academic and Administrative Support:Provides academic guidance and resource support to educational institutions in the district.  • Aims to ensure the functional autonomy of the institute

8. FUNCTION OF DIETS:- • The context, mission and role of the DIETS have been discussed in the preceding Chapter. Their functions, as spelt out in the POA. These could be re-stated as follows:- • 1. Training and orientation of the following target groups. • i. Elementary school teachers (both pre-service and in-service education). • ii. Head Master, Heads of School Complexes and officers of Education Department up to Block level. • iii. Instructors and supervisors of Non-formal and Adult Education (induction level and continuing education). • iv. Members of DBE and Village Education Committee (VECS) Community leaders, youth and other volunteers who wish to work as educational activities. • v. Resource persons who will conduct suitable programmes for the target groups mentioned at (1) and (iii) above, at centers other than the DIET.

9. 2. Academic and resource support to the elementary and adult education systems in the district in other ways e.g. by • (i) extension activities and interaction with the field, • (ii) provision of services of a resource and learning center for teachers and instructors, • (iii) development of locally relevant materials teaching aids, evaluation tools etc., and • (iv) serving as an evaluation center for elementary school and programmes of NFE/AE. • 3. Action research and experimentation to deal with specific problems of the district in achieving the objectives in the areas of elementary and adult education.