TED News Desk, New Delhi: The National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Association (NISHTHA) programme, introduced by the Government of India in 2019, has provided training to 16,99,931 teachers. Ramesh Pokhriyal, Minister of Education, informed about the same in Lok Sabha, on September 4.
“A total of 23,137 Key Resource Persons (KRPs) and State Resource Persons (SRPs) and 16,99,931 school heads and teachers have been trained under NISTHA in 2019-20,” reported the Minister.
The scheme, launched on August 21, aims at building the capabilities of nearly 42 lakh teachers and principals of schools across the country. With the COVID-19 crisis in hindsight, the ministry has also developed an online portal for NISTHA. Moreover, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is conducting Prospective Resource Person training programmes as well. So far, 1500 Key Resource people have been selected, the Minister added.
Additionally, the Center is also using a CBSE podcast called ShikshaVani to provide learning. Owing to the COVID situation adversely affecting the education sector, CBSE has delayed the new academic session, and also cut short some parts of syllabi of various subjects for the current session. Online classes are the norm for the past few months. Web platforms, PM eVIDYA, TV channels, podcasts and radio are among many of the mediums that are being used for online classes.
The government is taking strides towards making life easier for the students, especially in these times of crisis. Such an effort is appreciated, and it is hoped will help India in the long run.
