Introduction
Quality education depends largely on the quality of teachers. To prepare and continuously upgrade teachers, every state in India has established a State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). SCERTs function as the state-level academic authority, responsible for curriculum development, teacher training, educational research, and innovations in pedagogy.
While NCERT works at the national level, SCERT acts as its counterpart at the state level, ensuring that educational programmes are contextualized to local needs. SCERT plays a significant role in teacher education by preparing teachers for elementary and secondary schools through pre-service and in-service training programmes, curriculum reforms, and professional development activities.
Objectives of SCERT in Teacher Education
The key objectives of SCERT in teacher education include:
To design and implement teacher education programmes at the state level.
To develop curriculum, syllabi, and textbooks suited to state needs.
To organize pre-service and in-service training for teachers.
To conduct research and innovation in pedagogy and evaluation.
To provide academic support to DIETs, CTEs, and IASEs (state-level teacher education institutions).
To ensure alignment of state curricula with National Curriculum Framework (NCF) while considering local culture and language.
Functions of SCERT in Teacher Education
1. Curriculum Development
SCERT prepares state-specific curricula, textbooks, and teacher manuals. It adapts NCERT’s National Curriculum Framework (NCF) to regional contexts by incorporating local culture, traditions, and languages.
2. Teacher Training Programmes
SCERT is responsible for both pre-service and in-service teacher training. It designs training modules for elementary and secondary school teachers, ensuring they are updated with modern teaching strategies and pedagogical skills.
Pre-service training: Conducted through state teacher education colleges under SCERT’s guidance.
In-service training: Workshops, refresher courses, and professional development programmes for practicing teachers.
3. Academic Support to Teacher Education Institutions
SCERT supervises and supports institutions such as:
District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs)
Colleges of Teacher Education (CTEs)
Institutes of Advanced Studies in Education (IASEs)
These institutions function under SCERT’s academic guidance for effective teacher preparation.
4. Research and Innovation
SCERT conducts action research, surveys, and field studies in areas like pedagogy, assessment methods, and inclusive education. Research findings are applied to improve teacher training and classroom practices.
5. Professional Development of Teachers
SCERT organizes orientation programmes, refresher courses, and capacity-building workshops for teachers, principals, and teacher educators. This ensures continuous professional growth and adaptation to new policies such as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
6. Integration of ICT in Teacher Education
SCERT promotes digital learning and ICT-based training through:
E-content development
Online teacher training modules
Use of platforms like DIKSHA and NISHTHA for teacher empowerment
7. Collaboration with NCERT and NCTE
SCERT works in close coordination with NCERT (national level) and NCTE (regulatory body) to implement teacher education policies. It ensures that teacher training programmes align with national standards while reflecting state-specific needs.
Role of SCERT at Different Levels
Elementary Level
Training primary teachers in activity-based and child-centered learning.
Developing textbooks and teaching aids for elementary schools.
Addressing issues of multilingual and inclusive classrooms.
Secondary Level
Designing subject-specific pedagogy for mathematics, science, social studies, and languages.
Training teachers in ICT integration and innovative evaluation practices.
Focusing on inclusive education for diverse learners at the secondary stage.
Importance of SCERT in Teacher Education
The role of SCERT is crucial for several reasons:
Ensures state-specific curriculum that reflects local culture and needs.
Provides continuous professional development of teachers.
Strengthens pre-service and in-service teacher education.
Enhances the quality of school education through trained teachers.
Bridges the gap between national educational policies and state-level implementation.
Challenges Faced by SCERT in Teacher Education
Despite its vital role, SCERT faces challenges such as:
Shortage of trained faculty and resource persons.
Inadequate infrastructure in DIETs and other institutions.
Limited use of ICT in teacher training in rural areas.
Difficulty in uniform implementation of training across districts.
Conclusion
The State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs) play a pivotal role in shaping teacher education at the state level. By designing curricula, preparing teaching resources, conducting training programmes, and supervising teacher education institutions, SCERT ensures that teachers are well-equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st-century classroom. Strengthening SCERT’s role and addressing its challenges will significantly improve the quality of teacher education in India and contribute to achieving the goals of the National Education Policy 2020.
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