The HRD ministry in its 12th five year plan has recognised 36 universities as potential participants for its various teachers' education programme to improve the quality of teaching in schools. The list prepared by the HRD ministry includes names of state, central, deemed universities and two IIMs.

IIM Ahemdabad, IIM Banglore and NIEPA (Delhi) have been shortlisted to start a programme on MBA in education. Other state and central universities across India, including DU, JNU, Osmania University, Patna University, HP University, IISc, Banglore university, University of Mumbai, Punjab University etc, have been identified to start diplomas, bachelors and masters programme in education.

Universities will finally be identified on the basis of their readiness and willingness to widen their involvement of liberal arts and science departments in the education of teachers rather than leaving it exclusively to the department of education.

Recent reports on primary education by various sectors have shown that government schemes have helped in increasing the enrollment of students in schools over the years but the quality of education has dipped. One of the reason identified is the poor quality of teachers available. HRD ministry now plans to focus on improving the quality of teachers through various programmes. "Earlier the focus was on providing access to education, but now our focus is to provide quality education to children," a senior HRD ministry's official said.

Under the RTE act, all teachers have to be trained by 2015.