Teachers of Classes I to VIII in ICSE schools will have to undergo online training to foster “critical thinking in students” and build their “competencies”, the ICSE council has said in a circular addressed to the heads of all affiliated schools.

Some of the courses include inclusive education, art integration, health and wellbeing in schools and pre-school education.

The training is part of the National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement (Nishtha), an integrated teacher training programme under a centrally sponsored scheme.

“It aims to build competencies among all the teachers and school principals at the elementary stage. The basic objective of this massive training programme is to motivate and equip teachers to encourage and foster critical thinking in students,” the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) had said in an earlier circular.

The training comprising 18 courses started on November 23 and will continue till the end of February.

A batch of three courses will be launched every 15 days. Each set of courses will be available for 15 days.

On Friday, the CISCE shared the details of three courses that will start on December 1. They are on integrating gender in the teaching-learning process, integration of information and communications technology in teaching-learning and assessment, and art integrated learning.

Each course requires a minimum of three to four hours’ engagement and the teachers will have the flexibility to complete the course in a “self paced manner,” according to the CISCE.

The CISCE in an earlier circular had said the programme was launched in August 2019.

“In view of the Covid-19 pandemic situation, Nishtha has now been customised to be conducted in an online mode… for providing training to all elementary school teachers (Classes I to VIII)...” the earlier circular by the council to the school heads had said.

The school heads said the programme would benefit the teachers.

“It is a good proposition because it will train teachers to transact the curriculum better and give individualised attention to the students,” said Seema Sapru, the principal of The Heritage School.

Referring to courses such as the one on art integrated learning, Sapru said “interdisciplinary learning is important and it is a progressive thought”.

Another school head said: “Not all schools have the option or the facility to train teachers, who are more used to traditional forms of education. Training by the council would help teachers ‘open their minds’ to new things.”