Empowering Educators: The Importance of Professional Development in Today’s Schools

Project Inclusion: Training 360,000 Teachers to Support Neurodiverse Students in India

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, teacher’s professional development is essential, they need to be updated with the latest pedagogical strategies, technological advancements, and inclusive teaching practices. Aurobindo Society (SAS) and the SBI Foundation have successfully wrapped up their three-year initiative, “Project Inclusion,” which trained 360,000 teachers across India which is a step towards inclusive education.

This project is aligned with India's National Education Policy and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, it is aimed to develop an inclusive learning environment for students. Its goal is to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4) for quality education by equipping educators with the skills and resources needed to effectively teach students with diverse learning needs. The project is now expanding its efforts to all 1,254 Kendriya Vidyalayas to better support neurodiverse students.

Recently in an event held on September 26 and 27, senior policymakers and education leaders discussed teacher development and the role of technology in promoting inclusive education. Representatives from organizations such as the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), and the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) participated in the discussions. Kesang Yangzom Sherpa, Member Secretary of the NCTE, highlighted the significance of inclusive classrooms and the potential of technology to expand these initiatives into remote areas. Simmi Mahajan, Chief Program Officer of Project Inclusion, along with Radhika Purohit from the SBI Foundation, stressed the necessity of providing quality education to every child.

The current education system in India faces challenges such as a lack of awareness, inadequate teacher training, and insufficient technological infrastructure, continuing to hinder the establishment of an inclusive education ecosystem. The Aurobindo Society (SAS), a nonprofit organization, operates in 36 states and impacts 7 million stakeholders in education. As part of its Rupantar initiative, Project Inclusion continues to promote inclusive education by training teachers across the country to better support neurodiverse students.

Editor's Note:  

To provide a supportive learning environment to students and to maximize the outputs the professional development of teachers is more crucial than ever. The successful completion of “Project Inclusion” by the Aurobindo Society (SAS) and the SBI Foundation marks a significant step toward creating a more inclusive learning environment in India. During this project, 360,000 teachers were trained and committed to supporting neurodiverse students. However, challenges still present, and for that policymakers have to focus more on teachers training and providing technological resources to them. 

Skoobuzz commends the efforts of the Aurobindo Society in providing essential training for educators.