With almost everything going online to minimise human contact and slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has started organising online capacity building training programmes for teachers during the lockdown on how to deal with youngsters during this difficult phase.

Earlier, these capacity building programmes used to happen in schools. Now, the CBSE Centre of Excellence in Patna is organising the training online. Once the training is complete, the teacher is eligible for an e-certificate.

The CBSE has planned around 1,200 online sessions to be conducted by the Centre of Excellence by the end of this month.

In East Singhbhum, around 600 teachers have already attended the training programme that kicked off in May.

Principal of Sant Nandlal Smriti Vidya Mandir, Ghatshila, Sanjay Kumar Mallick, who is also the CBSE city coordinator (training) for East Singhbhum, said the response to the online sessions has been “overwhelming”.

“Initially we used to organise such sessions in schools but now we are arranging for resource persons and meeting via Google Meet. To make the sessions easier, the board has preferred to break up each topic into smaller modules. Teachers have found it to be very useful. Also, we find that during the lockdown period, the enthusiasm is more, everyone is more receptive,” Mallick said.

The subjects for teachers’ capacity building include life skills, stress management, happy classrooms, general sensitivity and other related topics. Completing five sessions of each topic means a daylong training.

Mallick said that this programme was “beyond the academic capacity building” but this would help teachers with troubleshooting, helping students with their practical problems and interpersonal relationships.

Asked about the need for such a programme, Mallick said it was essential. “Today's problems, especially now when we are living in a pandemic, are too complicated. Students have to navigate a world of masks, mobility curbs, over-dependence on virtual interactions, uncertainty and insecurity. These sessions empower teachers to be more compassionate, understand students and help them solve practical problems,” said Mallick.

Mallick has also requested CBSE school principals to encourage their teachers to take part in the programme.