HRDD targets training all teachers by 2015

GANGTOK, 20 Jan: The state government is taking up the matter of education, particularly the provisions under the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, rather seriously and in a committed fashion. In this regard, the Human Resource Development Department has announced that it has set itself the target to achieve 100% fully trained teachers in government schools meeting the minimum required qualification as required under the Act by the year 2015. The department has recently announced a set of rules for strict compliance by teachers.
In an important decision, all untrained teachers who will attain the age of 58 on 31 December, 2015 will be offered voluntary retirement. As per the HRD Department directive, teachers of all categories attaining the age of 58 by the end of 2015 and who have failed to acquire the 2-year diploma in elementary education/ B.Ed/ M.Ed will be allowed to proceed on voluntary retirement with benefits of two advance increments. Additionally, any teacher appointed before 03 September, 2001 in accordance with the prevalent recruitment rules will not be required to undertake the additional required training on elementary education.
Meanwhile, all professionally untrained primary teachers of government schools with Class XII qualification are to enroll themselves in the DIET or at IGNOU for a 2-year diploma in Elementary Education by the year 2013. All professionally untrained Graduate and Post Graduate Teachers of Government schools are required to either enroll themselves at Soreong Government B.Ed College/ Loyola College, Namchi/ Harkamaya B.Ed College, or IGNOU for B.Ed Degree programme by the year 2013, positively.
It has also been informed that teachers appointed on or after 03 September, 2001 need not acquire the above mentioned minimum qualification provided that a teacher of Class I to V possessing either B.Ed or M.Ed shall undertake an NCTE recognized 6-month special programme on elementary education. Similarly a teacher of Class I to V with B.Ed and who has completed a 6-month Special Basic Course approved by NCTC will not be required to undertake the additional training.
The HRD Department has also come out with its definition of ‘Trained Teacher’. Primary trained teachers are defined as those who have successfully completed a crash course conducted by the department during 1979-81 or those who have completed TTC by DIET/TTI till 2002 or those who have successfully completed 2 years TTC by DIET or NCTE recognized institute after 2003.
Graduate Teacher, as per the department, are those who have completed one year B.Ed or B.Ed integrated 4 years or 2 years course from any NCTE recognized institution and conducted by a university approved by the UGC.

Teachers undergoing TTI training demand full pay

7-MEMBER COMMITTEE SET UP BY HRDD YET TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE
GANGTOK, 02 Aug: A number of primary teachers and monastic teachers in the state are demanding full pay through the time they spend undergoing the requisite training as stipulated by the State government.
A number of primary and monastic teachers of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan were brought under regular establishment by HRDD in the pay scale of Rs. 4,200-110-6,400 w.e.f. 01 April 2009 on the condition that they complete a two-year TTI course from a recognized Institute within five years from the date of joining and the time taken to complete the course was to be treated as probation period. A number of primary teachers, as informed, are undergoing this 2 year diploma course at DIET.
The issue arises as such teachers under training are being provided half pay as was earlier decided by the government. There was a departmental directive that sanctioned the training period as study leave with provision of half pay. However, teachers undergoing training have been demanding full pay from the Department as they see their training not as study leave but as ‘in-service training’.
The two-year TTI passed certificate is a prerequisite for a primary teacher under the recruitment rules for Primary Teachers.
It has also come to light that another category of primary and monastic teachers undergoing 2 year TTI courses have been drawing full pay as they are simultaneously informed to be rendering their service in their respective schools. This set of teachers is informed to be undergoing their training from IGNOU distance mode.
The other set of primary and monastic teachers are undergoing training at DIET and are required to be present at the institute and so are not teaching in their respective schools and are receiving half pay. It is further informed that there is another set of senior primary teachers also attending the 2 year course at DIET who are being paid in full as they were appointed when the prerequisite of a 2 year TTI certificate was not required.
It is informed that a committee was set up in June 2012 by the department to look into the matter and address the grievance of the teachers getting half pay for their study leave. The aggrieved teachers have also made a representation to the state government for grant of full pay during their training period as they feel they are undergoing in-service training and not study leave. The committee is to recommend a solution for the government to take a policy decision on the matter.
The committee had a couple of meetings in July to sort out the issue but it is yet to be ascertained whether a resolution was finalized. In fact during one of the meetings, the committee noted that the department had supported the teachers by way of reserving 50 seats at a time in DIET to accommodate them for the course. This is a 7-member committee headed by the Additional Secretary, HRDD.

Third phase of in-service training for teachers concludes in South Sikkim

NAMCHI, 02 Feb: The valedictory function of the third phase of In-Service Training on Proficiency Development of Teachers of South District in Mathematics and other topics related to school activities was held here at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) Namchi on 01 February.
During the programme the chief guest, Deputy Director HRDD South, AK Das thanked the trainees for participating and getting enriched in professional skills and requested them to hone these skills.
He also highlighted on the moral aspects of education and expressed that teaching methods should also change with the changing times. He cited the importance of primary teachers compared to teachers at the secondary level and added that change in the attitude is necessary in order to focus more on CCE and RTE. Stating that ‘one year failure’ is a negative term he urged the teachers to focus more on the ability of the children.
He also highlighted on the importance of the English language and the practice it needs for which he said that it is not only the duty of the concerned teachers but everyone else. Apart from that he also addressed many other topics related with the teacher, child and education system as a whole.
Principal DIET, Dr. Ranjay Sinha in his address said that effort from both sides i.e. trainee teachers and lecturers are necessary as the feedback from the trainees reflects the impact of the training held. He added that the feedback given by the trainees were good and advised the trainee teachers to introduce lots of activities for the children and further suggested the implementation of whatever they have learnt during the training period in their respective schools.
The last day of the training also included feedback by the trainees. In their feedback they said that they learned new methods of teaching instead of traditional methods along with new methods of teaching in mathematics and how to make it exciting for students. Expressing their eagerness they said that they learned friendly methods of teaching and demanded similar trainings to be organized time and again. The programme concluded with the distribution of certificates to the trainees.

Proficiency development training for science teachers of South dist concludes

NAMCHI, 25 Jan: Proficiency development training for graduate teachers teaching science from different government schools of South district concluded today at Namchi Girls Senior Secondary school which had started on 16 January. The training was organized by SCERT, Human Resource Development Department, Gangtok and sponsored by Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA).
In the valedictory function held today, Deputy Director HRDD (South), BR Bista was present as the chief guest. Addressing the function Deputy Director SCERT, DK Rai informed that the ten-day programme focused on bringing about proficiency development and personal competency amongst the participants. Teachers must use the knowledge that they have learnt during this training programme to improve the environment in the
teaching-learning process, he said.
He further informed that though the training programme was organized during the winter vacation yet the teachers have actively participated and he congratulated all the participants for their effort in making this training programme successful. Mr Rai also thanked the resource person for their coordination during the training programme.
Chief guest Deputy Director HRDD (S), BR Bista said that proficiency development
training for teachers is important in order to provide better education for the younger
generation since the knowledge will be passed on to the students.
During the programme the teachers were also awarded certificates and the programme was also addressed by Principal NGSS, Archana Gurung. The programme was also attended by resource persons DK Sharma PGT NSSS, P Sutradhar PGT NSSS, Usha
Pradhan PGT NSSS, Shyam Kr. Pradhan PGT NGSS.

Proficiency development training for graduate teachers at Namchi

NAMCHI, 12 Jan: A 10-day Proficiency Development training for graduate teachers taking classes in the secondary level concluded here at Namchi Girls Senior Secondary school today. The training had begun on 03 January and was organized by SCERT, HRDD Gangtok and sponsored under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan.
Deputy Director HRDD (South) was present as the chief guest for the valedictory session today accompanied by Deputy Director SCERT, DK Rai and the resource persons of the training.
Addressing the function, Dy Director SCERT, DK Rai informed that the programme focuses on bringing about proficiency development and personal competency amongst the teachers. The major components were spoken English, listening, speaking skills, reading and writing skills in addition to demonstrating various methodologies of teaching poetry, prose, grammar and vocabulary by the resource persons of the programme.
He further expressed that the enthusiasm displayed by the participants despite the winter chill and it being vacation time for the teachers is an indication that we are moving towards the right direction. He congratulated all the participants and also thanked all the resource persons for their cooperation during the training programme.
Chief guest, Dy Director South, AK Das in his address also congratulated all the teacher trainees and said that the English language has become the most important language in our lives and is the first language in the class room thus the role of English teachers is very important. He further said that speaking the language is the best way to teach students which would also help the teachers to be the best in their field of teaching as well.  
The trainee teachers were provided with certificates at the end of the programme.

In-Service Training on English for Primary Teachers of South Dist begins

NAMCHI, 09 Jan: A six-day Short Term In-Service Training of Government Primary Teachers of South District on English began today at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) Namchi, and will conclude on 15 January. A total of 50 trainee teachers (primary teachers) from South District will take part in this training.

Proficiency Development Training for Graduate Teachers

GANGTOK, 03 Jan: A 30-day ‘Proficiency Development Training’ is being organized by the HRDD for Graduate Teachers. The main focus of this training is based on the strategies of transferring the various components of the subject matter to the children so that it will be easier for the students to comprehend each component in the best possible manner, informs a press release.

CRC level Primary Teachers’ Training held at Kitam Sec School

NAMCHI, 23 Oct: Cluster-level Primary Teachers’ Training was held at Govt Secondary School Kitam, South Sikkim, yesterday following directions received from the district authority of HRDD (South), informs a press release.

No salary deduction during training period, CM assures West teachers

GANGTOK, 15 July: Primary school teachers of West Sikkim undergoing teacher training at Kyongsa DIET called on the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, when he was in West District headquarter town for Bhanu Jayanti celebrations on Wednesday, a press release informs.
Later, addressing a press conference at the DIET building, the teachers informed that the two-year teacher training at DIET was a crucial step towards achieving the Chief Minister’s vision of providing quality education in Sikkim.
They further informed that with regard to the issue of salary deduction during training period, the CM assured the teacher representatives that the deduction will not be made, the release informs.
The teachers have thanked the CM for this assurance and also conveyed their thanks to the area MLA, PL Subba for his support. 

Teachers on training appeal for full salaries through diploma course

MANGAN, 12 JUNE:  Primary and monastic teachers from different schools who will be undergoing training on study leave for a period of two years from 01 July 2011 to 30 June 2013 for diploma in Elementary Education at DIET, Gangtok for the academic session 2011-13 have appealed to the Department that they be paid their full salary during this period. A total of 29 teachers from different schools of North District have been selected for the training.
These teachers who have been directed by the department to undergo the above training have been informed through a circular that they are entitled to half their salary during the study leave. 
The teachers here informed that earlier they have been paid full salary along with two increments after the training.

Post-harvest technology awareness programme held at Hee-Gyathang

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 23 Feb:  A one-day technology awareness training on post harvest management and processing of ginger was held here at Hee Gyathang, Lower Dzongu in North Sikkim, today.  The training was sponsored by National Horticulture Board and conducted by SIMFED in association with SIBIN Group and resource persons from ICAR.
The training began with an awareness session chaired by Panchayat Vice President, Hee Gyathang GPU, Karma Lepcha and Panchayat Secretary, Lum/Gor/Sangtok GPU, Tshering Gyatso Lepcha as special guest.

Primary school teachers complete Quality Education training

SUBASH RAI
GANGTOK, 22 Feb: 298 primary school teachers from various government schools of Sikkim have completed the final phase of ‘Proficiency Development Training Programme’. Now, to see how well they deliver quality education in their classrooms.
These teachers- 120 from East district, 72 from West, 31 from North and 75 from South district recently completed their 3rd and the final phase of training here at Paljor Namgyal Girls’ Senior Secondary School recently.