Teachers of Shantiniketan Indian School returned to a normal physical mode of their signature monthly activity of Teachers Discussion Forum which turned out to be a highly interactive and enriching discussion on the topic “Challenges and Opportunities in Implementing NEP 2020.”
The Moderator Mr. Shakir Hussain – Head of Department of Social Science, triggered the Panelists and the participants to share the challenges and opportunities of some key pedagogical practices envisaged in the National Education Policy 2020. The discussion panel included Head of Departments of all subjects – Mr. Mudassir Kirmani (Arabic), Mr. Prasad (Malayalam), Mr. Varghese Anthony (Hindi), Mr. Noufal (Arts) Mr. Tanveer Mehndi (Physical Education, Mr. Mathew KC (English), Mrs. Shamsiya Suhaibu (Mathematics) and Mr. Saleem (Science). The subject experts brought to the fore the status SIS has achieved in the implementation of some of the Fundamental Principles related to pedagogical practices, the challenges faced by the teachers and the opportunities available to ensure effective implementation of NEP 2020 in order to achieve the goals of Indian education that would ensure Expansion, Equity, Excellence and Employability among the learners of the youngest nation in the World.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Dudley O’Connor presented the new programme DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) for English learners to enhance and develop their reading skills and build a reading habit to achieve excellence. The programme targets learners at SIS from grade 1 to 8 to develop reading habits.
Principal – Ms. Pamela Ghosh- during her review address expressed happiness and optimism at the progress made in the implementation of NEP 2020 at SIS. She also appreciated the launch of the new Programme -DEAR and shared her desire to take it to other languages including Arabic as well. She also showed her interest in strengthening the use of technology for learning by introducing Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality for learners in their Early Years of learning to strengthen Foundational Literacy and Numeracy skills. She directed the Head of Department and Leadership to Review curriculum and Pedagogy and to bring about competency and research- enquiry based learning, Questioning skills to be improved upon. She also stressed upon structured analyzing of learning i.e. Assessments-Formative and Summative. Further to the above she added values in every activity to be positively pragmatic. Integration must be across disciplines, Digital literacy is the need of the hour for every stakeholder.
The session concluded with a small entertainment programme to promote wellness and happiness among teachers in school. Teachers sang, danced and participated in a game and also did aerobics that made the day extremely eventful and memorable. Ms. Saima, as the Master of Ceremony managed the entire programme with great ease and professionalism.
