A major capacity-building initiative aimed at equipping primary school teachers with modern teaching practices concluded in Sri Vijaya Puram with over 1,200 educators trained in competency-based pedagogies aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Conducted jointly by the Dr. S. Radhakrishnan District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) and the State Institute of Education, the in-service training programme was held over six phases from May 19 to June 27. Designed to coincide with the summer vacation, the initiative sought to enhance teachers’ understanding of the NEP’s curriculum reforms and introduce them to new NCERT subjects and textbooks.
Led by Vikram Singh, Director of Education, the programme was conducted face-to-face across multiple venues to facilitate wider participation while ensuring safety and logistical feasibility. With 82% of the targeted primary school teachers attending, the effort marks a significant leap in professional development for the teaching workforce in the islands.
The sixth and final phase concluded at the GMSSS Auditorium, where Sangeeta Chand, Principal of the State Institute of Education and DIET, addressed participants. She urged teachers to move beyond content-heavy instruction and embrace a more student-centric, competency-based approach. The goal, she emphasized, is to make classrooms dynamic spaces for inquiry and creativity.
The training programme covered a wide range of topics including innovative assessment strategies, classroom management, learning outcomes-based planning, and integration of digital tools in teaching. Teachers were also introduced to formative assessment frameworks and activity-based learning methods tailored to the new curriculum.
This training is part of a broader strategy to align the island’s education system with national reforms under the NEP 2020. With a focus on foundational literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, and experiential learning, the policy mandates significant changes in both content and delivery of education.
Participants reported that the sessions helped them understand the philosophy behind the NEP and gave them practical tools to implement it in their classrooms. The interactive format and phase-wise design allowed teachers to receive focused guidance while engaging in collaborative learning with peers from across the islands.
In a region where connectivity and access to continuous professional development remain challenging, the in-person format of the training proved crucial. Organizers noted that the face-to-face interaction fostered a stronger sense of collective responsibility among educators.
Going forward, the Education Department plans to conduct follow-up workshops and classroom observation visits to support implementation. Teacher feedback and student learning outcomes will be closely monitored to evaluate the programme’s long-term impact.
The success of this initiative reflects the Administration’s commitment to quality education through investment in teacher training. With over 1,200 primary teachers now exposed to NEP-aligned practices, the foundation has been laid for a gradual but steady transformation in teaching and learning across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
