State Council of Educational Research and Training launches
State Council of Educational Research and Training launches diploma course in foundational stage education
State Council of Educational Research and Training, (SCERT), Nagaland, has launched the first batch two-year Diploma in Foundational Stage Education (DFSE) 2025- 27
Razouseyi Vese and other officials along with the first
batch trainees during the launch of two-year Diploma in Foundational Stage
Education (DFSE) in Kohima on March 4.
DIMAPUR — State
Council of Educational Research and Training, (SCERT), Nagaland,has launched the first batch two-year Diploma
in Foundational Stage Education (DFSE) 2025- 27 on March 4.
Speaking at the inaugural function held at SCERT conference
hall, Razouseyi Vese, director of School Education, has stressed the need to
take care of nursery section of students with the implementation of National
Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
“We have to go extra mile. It will be a big challenge for
us,” Vese said and congratulated SCERT Nagaland for developing the training
module on foundational stage education. He expressed hope that other parts of
the country would emulate the same, an update from SCERT Nagaland stated.
Reminding that learning doesn't have any limit, he called
upon the trainees to take learning as everyday affair. He also called upon the
teachers to impart moral values to students apart from normal textbook
knowledge and curriculum.
The additional director of SCERT, Kerüüpfeü Rüpreo, informed
that 53 primary teacher trainees from all the districts of Nagaland are
attending the training programme.
“Many of them have already completed D.EI.Ed and B.Ed course
and few of them are fresh candidates without any professional training,” she
informed.
She stated that the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has
envisioned a new curricular and pedagogical structure 5+3+3+4, where the first
five years of schooling is the foundational stage for children in the age group
of 3 to 8 years. She added that the new curricular structure has necessitated
for a training programme to train teachers to handle children at the
foundational stage.
Rüpreo informed that the diploma in Foundational Stage
Education (DFSE) training programme was an initiative of SCERT Nagaland, which
is a two-year course for in-service primary teachers and would be transacted in
blended mode.
“Teacher is at the heart of the practice of education and
ultimately the torchbearer for the transformation that we seek in our
education,” she said.
While the training was envisioned to clearly define the
underlying philosophy and principles of early childhood, it does not simply
leave it at the level of a vague idea but also bring it to effective
implementation in the classroom, she added.
The additional director also stated that the training aims
to equip a strong pool of competent teachers, who are responsive to the
learning needs and interests of different learners in the classroom and design
effective developmentally appropriate teaching-learning and assessment
practices for children in the foundational stage.
She further stated that on successful completing of the
programme, the trained teacher would become qualified to teach children at the
foundational stage.
Briefing on the two years diploma in foundational stage
education, Roseline Richa, stated that the reconfiguration of the curricular
and pedagogical structure of school education involving 5+3+3+4 design as
recommended by NEP 2020 made it imperative for availability of trained teachers
at a particular stage of school education namely foundational stage,
preparatory stage, middle stage or secondary stage.
She stated that the course has been designed to train a pool
of competent teachers capable of designing developmentally appropriate
teaching-learning- assessment practices that are responsive to the learning
needs and interests of children in the foundational stage (3 to 8 years).
Elaborating on vision of the course, Richa said, “As
teachers must be at the centre of fundamental reforms in the education system,
the training aims to prepare teachers as emphasised in the pedagogical and
curricular restructuring of the school education under NEP 2020.”
It is an effort to make teacher training relevant to the
developmental needs and interest of learners at the foundational stage, which
would significantly improve quality teaching learning practices, she added.
The objective of the training was to acquaint the teachers
with the knowledge of child psychology/child development, to understand the
concept and importance of developmentally appropriate practices in foundational
stage and to cultivate social sensitivity, affection for children and respect
for their uniqueness.
It also aims to provide appropriate interventions to meet
requirements of inclusive classroom and facilitate network with parents and
community and government organisations and other organisations to generate
awareness and seek their involvement.
