Oxford University Press India partners with CBSE to train teachers on NCF-FS

In a significant partnership, the Oxford University Press India (OUP) has joined forces with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to introduce a research-based Capacity Building Programme (CBP) named "Think–Share–Learn–Practice" (TSLP). This initiative is designed to empower teachers and facilitate the implementation of the National Curriculum Framework at the Foundational Stage (NCF-FS).

Aim of the Program: The primary goal of the Capacity Building Programme is to empower teachers in foundational stages across 25,000 schools. These teachers will play a crucial role in establishing activity-based learning environments and bridging the gap in teaching-learning methods for students aged 3 to 8 years in Bal Vatika 1, 2, 3, and grades one and two. The TSLP program aims to equip teachers with the knowledge and core skills required for curriculum design and teaching practices, ensuring a seamless transition to a holistic, activity-based, and experiential learning environment rooted in the Indian ethos.

Support for Teacher Professional Development: Dr. Nidhi Chhibber, Chairperson of CBSE, emphasized the commitment to advancing the school teaching-learning system, with a focus on empowering teachers as change-makers in the foundation segment. She highlighted the significance of this pioneering collaboration with Oxford University Press in building a community that collectively thinks, shares, learns, and practices. The program is dedicated to creating a holistic learning environment for children.

Role of Oxford University Press: Sumanta Datta, Managing Director of Oxford University Press India, highlighted their commitment to offering high-quality teacher training. OUP, known for its relentless pursuit of providing professional growth opportunities for teachers at various educational levels, is in a unique position to collaborate with esteemed organizations like CBSE. The collaboration is aimed at developing diverse teacher training workshops and materials to enhance teacher outreach and penetration across the country.

Key Focus Areas: The Capacity Building Program will focus on enhancing teachers' skills to effectively utilize locally available resources and integrate activities into curriculum design and implementation within reasonable budgets. The program emphasizes:

• Comprehensive understanding of Panchkosha Vikas and Developmental Domains.
• Classroom and resource management.
• Language development, including local music and storytelling, with a segment dedicated to phonics and reading.
• Numeracy and application.
• Environment and skill building to support the overall development of young learners.

Alignment with NEP2020 and NCF-FS 2022: Both the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP2020) and the National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage 2022 (NCF-FS 2022) underscore the importance of teacher professional development in ensuring sustained improvements in learner achievement. Oxford University Press has a strong track record of conducting over 1,500 course-specific and pedagogy-based workshops annually, reaching out to more than 200,000 teachers every year for the past two decades.