Shiksha Samvad: Supporting Institutions for a Stronger Future
What does it really take to change the way children learn in classrooms? New textbooks? Digital tools? Or something deeper? At Sterlite EdIndia Foundation, we believe that the real change begins with the people and institutions that prepare our teachers.
We organised the very first Shiksha Samvad under our Institutional Strengthening Program (ISP), a dialogue focused on transforming SCERTs and DIETs into true Centres of Excellence. It was not just about discussions, but about action, because the future is NOW. Leaders from SCERTs and DIETs came together to exchange ideas, reflect on challenges, and emphasize that implementation and execution are the real keys to shaping the future of teacher education.
At its heart, Shiksha Samvad is about connection, creating a collaborative platform to share best practices, align with the vision of National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and the National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST), and deal with challenges SCERTs and DIETs face every day effectively.
Teachers are the backbone of education, but strong teachers can only emerge from strong institutions. Many SCERTs and DIETs struggle with the lack of teaching faculty, travel distances, internship opportunities, and insufficient dashboards for actionable decision-making. Shiksha Samvad is an attempt at active dialogues for collaborative learning and capacity building for making teaching an aspirational career.
Key Insights from the Dialogue
The first Shiksha Samvad was filled with meaningful discussions and powerful reflections from the leaders across 3 states:
“Teaching is an art, and teachers are the real implementers of every policy,” noted Shweta Fageria, Director, RSCERT. Her words were a strong reminder that policies succeed only when teachers are empowered and supported to execute them every day in school premises
Dr. Arun Kumar Sharma, Deputy Director of RSCERT Udaipur, emphasised that “there is no substitute for a good teacher” and highlighted storytelling and safe classrooms as essential ingredients of good pedagogy.
Padmendra Saklani, Additional Director SCERT Uttarakhand, brought in an innovative perspective by discussing oral reading assessments, online attendance systems, and geotagging. These data-driven monitoring practices showed how technology can directly improve classroom outcomes. DIET Pithoragarh’s social innovation lab was also showcased as an ideal lab highlighting that scarcity is the mother of innovation.
Samir Debarma, Principal, DIET Kakraban, Tripura highlighted how they manage internships for their students. They do not encourage hometown internships and emphasise on having the internship near the institution’s premises. This is a strategic decision to monitor progress through the tenure and give regular feedback. Other states shared their concerns about students wanting to go home for internships and how it has become a hindrance in monitoring.
Another important thread of discussion focused on textbooks in vernacular languages, ensuring that children learn in environments that feel natural, relatable, and personalised.
The dialogue also addressed the pressing need to prepare pre-service teachers for CTET and TET exams. From mock tests to structured remediation strategies, the participants stressed- how vital it is to equip aspiring teachers not just with theoretical knowledge, but with the confidence to succeed in real classrooms.
Shweta Fageria (Director, RSCERT), Padmendra Saklani (Additional Director, SCERT Uttarakhand), Dr. Arun Kumar Sharma (Deputy Director, RSCERT Udaipur), Padmendra Saklani (Additional Director SCERT Uttarakhand), Ajeet Singh Bhandari (Dy SPD, Uttarakhand), Sudip Chandra Bhattacharyya (Officer on Special Duty, SCERT Tripura), Samir Debarma (Principal, DIET Kakraban, Tripura)
Each of them brought a unique perspective, but together they reinforced; strong institutions create strong teachers, and strong teachers create strong classrooms.
From Conversations to Transformation
Shiksha Samvad is not just about discussions, it is about building a roadmap for action. By sharing good-practices, aligning with NEP 2020 and NPST, and embracing data-driven decision-making, Sterlite EdIndia Foundation’s Institutional Strengthening Program (ISP) is supporting SCERTs and DIETs transform into true Centres of Excellence.
By creating a culture of reflective practice, encouraging research, promoting experiential pedagogy, and using technology to ensure accountability and data driven decision. Strengthening the entire education eco-system.
The journey to transform India’s education system is long, but dialogues like Shiksha Samvad prove that change is possible when we walk together. Each reflection, each idea, and each commitment shared in this session takes us one step closer to classrooms where learning is joyful, inclusive, and meaningful.
At Sterlite EdIndia Foundation, we believe in anchoring innovation in local needs while keeping our eyes on the future. Shiksha Samvad is one more way we are working where innovation met purpose, and every milestone brings us closer to our vision of building an equitable and inclusive education system.
Cracking CTET is not just about hard work, it’s about working smart. By shifting from a candidate’s mindset to a teacher’s mindset, and by learning to read between the lines in the language papers, aspirants can gain a real edge. And with the right support system, mock tests, digital resources, and guided skill-building, success becomes far more attainable.
At Sterlite EdIndia Foundation, we are proud to walk alongside aspiring teachers on this journey. If you are preparing for CTET or other teacher eligibility exams, we invite you to explore our TeachAble app, practice with our mock tests, and benefit from the same resources that have already helped thousands of PSTs feel more confident and prepared.