Teachers to learn how to teach, not what to teach: School teacher training methods to undergo major overhaul in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The General Education Department has decided to overhaul the training system for school teachers, with the focus shifting from teaching subject content to improving teachers’ ability to effectively teach lessons to students.

Under the new approach, teachers will not be given training on lesson content they are already expected to know. Instead, training will focus on methods to help students understand the lessons. Teachers will also be trained to make use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies in the teaching process.

The move aims to improve the quality of education. The changes are being introduced based on the recommendations of former General Education Secretary Dr D. Sajith Babu.

Teachers who have studied their respective subjects thoroughly at the graduate and postgraduate levels do not need to be taught the same lesson content again, according to the department. A major share of the expenditure on teacher training is currently spent on reteaching content. Teachers are expected to understand the content themselves with the help of the Teachers’ Guide.

Modern technology and developments in the information technology sector will be incorporated into the training programme. An orientation class will be conducted for this purpose. Teachers will then be expected to use these tools to teach students what they have understood.

The approach will also enable teachers to identify the learning pace of individual students and accordingly structure lessons. They will be able to identify areas in which students face difficulties and provide additional training in those areas.

There is currently a lack of clarity over whether the training should be organised by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) or Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK).

Concern over quality despite high SSLC pass rate

Although Kerala has maintained a high pass percentage in the SSLC examinations, complaints about declining academic quality have been raised for years. Criticism has also intensified that many students are unable to perform basic tasks, such as writing an application, even after completing Class 10.

The department is seeking to address the issue by changing teaching methods.

Science and mathematics concepts, in particular, can be made easier for students to understand through tools such as 3D animations and quizzes.