The National policy on Education (NPE) 1986 and programme of Action (POA) envisaged a district level institution to support academic functions especially in the academic planning and teacher empowerment programmes in the district. DIETs (District Institute of Education and Training) in India are one of the off-shoots of the National Policy on Education (NPE—1986),.The mission and role of DIETS visualized in the POA (1986) of NPE (1986) was developed based on the context of education scenario at the national level. There are as many as 500 DIETs in India; one each in a revenue district. Initially DIET was entrusted with various interventions for the quality improvement in primary education.
        There are 14 DIETS in Kerala-One in each district. In Kerala DIETS were started their functioning in 1989 ( in three districts namely Kasargod, Wayanad and Thrissur) in the first phase and in 4 other District namely Kannur, Calicut, Pathanamthitta and Ernakulam in 1991 in the second phase and remaining 7 districts were covered in 1992 in the third phase. The Director of Public Instruction is the Controlling Officer of all DIETs in Kerala. Each DIET has an Advisory Committee that is reconstituted every year with the representatives of universities, educational experts, educational officers, media persons, teachers, headmasters and students. The committee generally sits twice in a year; first for planning the programmes of an academic year and the other one for the evaluation of implementation of the same.

• Field Interaction

        DIET is always in touch with the teachers, teacher trainers, teacher trainees, headmastersof the schools and all other functionaries in accomplishing their roles for providing effective curriculum transaction and effective management of institutions. This interaction is effected through direct visits to schools and through telephone calls.

• Resource Support

        The constant watch on the performance of teachers and functionaries results in fixing the areas where interventions are required. With the identification of the needs of the target group of teachers and functionaries, proper scaffoldings in curriculum transaction and management are planned.

• Research and Action Research

        DIET undertakes Action Researches and equips teachers for doing the same to solve the problems faced in class rooms during the curriculum transactions and studies aiming at formulating innovative strategies and methods in the field of teaching and school management.

• The Pre-service Training

        DIET runs the pre-service training (Two year TTC course) programme with a view to be the model for the teacher education programmes given by Teacher Training Institutes (TTIs) in the district.

• In-service Training

        The problems of working teachers and functionaries sensed through field interaction are addressed through in-service training of teachers and functionaries. In-service raining programmes are also carried out to induct an idea in pedagogy or evaluation that is propagated in cascade-mode or non-cascade mode.

• Support for Adult and Non-formal Education

        DIET is the district level agency to support the functions of Adult and Non-formal education programmes such as intensive training for preraks, preparation of resource material for preraks etc….

• Dissemination

        As a pioneering institution DIETs have to disseminate the innovations in curriculum transaction as well as in evaluation to the stake holders; teachers, parents, experts and functionaries.