MISSION
DIET is the realisation of one of the five components of A centrally sponsored scheme namely restructuring and reorganisation of Teacher Education, approved in October 1987. 
The 1964-66 Education Commission observed that in order to enhance the quality, competence and character of teachers, they should be provided quality training and academic / resource support. 

DIETs: Mission and Role
With the background given in the preceding sections, a DIETs Mission could be briefly stated in the following terms: -
To provide academic and resource support (vide para 1.5) 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: -

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 operationalised through specific performance norms set for individual DIETs.

DIETs: Pace-setting Role

Pursuit of excellence would have to inform all activities of the DIETs, in which context, it will have two inter-related aspects:-

	Excellence in the Institutes own work
	Helping the elementary and adult education systems in the district, in achieving excellence.

As far as the first aspect is concerned, efforts will be made to provide to DIETs all necessary physical and manpower resources. But it will be for them to harness these and other available resources in the best possible manner, so as to achieve and promote excellence.

In this context, DIETs will also have a very important pace setting role to play. They will be expected to become models for other educational institutions in the district in terms of meticulous, efficient and effective planning and execution of functions, harmonious and creative organizational climate, maintenance of a clean and attractive campus etc.

DIETs: Transactional Philosophy

A DIET is  having  3 main functions, viz.
	Training (both of induction level as well as continuing varieties)
	Resource support (extension/guidance, development of materials, aids, evaluation tools, etc.) and
	Action research

 DIETs: Special Target Groups
The concept a National System of Education implies that, up to a given level, all students, irrespective of caste, creed, location or sex, have access to education of a comparable quality: says the NPE. It goes on to say to promote equality, it will be necessary to provide for equal opportunity to all not only in access, but also in the condition for success. This is quite the essence of the universalisation task, and means that needs of educationally disadvantaged groups would have to be given maximum attention. The largest such groups are: -

	Girls and women
	Scheduled castes and Scheduled tribes
	Minorities
	The handicapped, and
	Other educationally disadvantaged groups e.g. working children, slum-dwellers, inhabitants of hilly, desert and other inaccessible areas, etc.

It follows that DIETs also, in all aspect of their work, would have to give primary attention to promotion of education of the above groups.

DIETs: Autonomy and Accountability
Para 10.1 of the NPE says an overhaul of the system of planning and management of education will receive priority. It also says that in this process, two of the guiding considerations will be: -

In view of the above, DIETs would need to be given adequate functional autonomy-academic, administrative and financial-and would at the same time be accountable laid down objectives and norms. They would be institutions of the State Government or UT Administration, and will therefore be ultimately answerable to them. The State government/UT Administration, and will therefore be ultimately answerable to them. The State Government/UT Administration may exercise its supervisory functions through the SCERT and SRC.

DIETs: Linkages

At the Divisional Level :- 
NGOs, institutions of higher education, secondary teacher education institutions, DRDA, local Radio Station (wherever applicable), etc.
University Dept. of Education, Institution of Advanced Study in education (IASE)*, NGOs and other concerned organisations and institutions.

At State Level :-
SCERT, SIET, SRC for Adult Education, NGOs 

At the National Level :- 
NCERT(including its Regional College within whose jurisdiction the state falls), NIEPA, Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), Directorate of Adult Education, Central Institute of Indian languages, Mysore, Kendriya Hindi Sansthan , Agra, other premier organisations/institutions and NGOs working in the area of elementary and adult education, etc.In specific terms, the linkages would be established through a meaningful and continuous dialogue in which institutions share problems, experiences, achievements, information and resources. The diet may also work as an agency for implementing some of the programmes and activities of national and state level organisations.

In the likeness of NCERT, NIEPA and SCERT's at national and state levels, DIET's were conceived to contribute to the development of Teacher Education at the district level. 
A comprehensive set of guidelines has been prepared for the successful implementation of DIET in close collaboration with NCERT, NIEPA and the Directorate of Adult Education.
DIETs to be Non-Vocation, Mainly Residential Institutions
Organisation of in-service programmes for teachers and training programmes for AE/NFE personnel would be one of DIETs main functions. This activity would go on throughout the year, but would peak during school vacations because that is when the Institutes resources would be free from the work-load of pre-service training, and also because that would cause minimum dislocation in schools. Therefore, DIETs will be non-vacation institutions-their personnel would have to be classified as non-vacation staff, and given consequential benefits as per State Governments Rules.

DIETs would also be expected to provide residential facilities to as many of their trainees as may be possible within the resources available for construction hostels. In utilizing available hostel accommodation, first priority shall be given to trainees other than pre-service trainees. The latter shall be accommodated to the extent possible after accommodation needs of all other training programmes (e.g. in-service programmes for teachers, training programmes for AE/NFE personnel. etc.) have been met.

DIET's THREE MAIN FUNCTIONS:-
	Pre Service as well as In Service Training to Teachers.
	Resource support (extension/guidance/development of materials, aids, evaluation tools etc.
	Action Research.

	Training and orientation of the following target groups:-
	Elementary school teachers (both pre-service and in-service education).
	Head Master, Heads of School Complexes and officers of Education Department up to Block level.
	Instructors and supervisors of Non-formal and Adult Education (induction level and continuing education)
	Members of PTA and Village Education Committee (VECs) Community leaders, youth and other volunteers who wish to work as educational activities.
	Resource persons who will conduct suitable programmes for the target groups mentioned at block centers other than the DIET .

	Academic and resource support to the elementary and adult education systems in the district in other ways e.g. by
	extension activities and interaction with the field,
	provision of services of a resource and learning center for teachers and instructors,
	development of locally relevant materials teaching aids, evaluation tools etc., and
	serving as an evaluation center for elementary school.

	Action research and experimentation to deal with specific problems of the district in achieving the objectives in the areas of elementary and adult education.