Central University of Kashmir hosts landmark NCTE workshop to advance NPST, NMM for teachers

• NCTE Mobilizes Stakeholders in J&K for National Rollout of NPST and NMM

GANDERBAL: In a significant step toward advancing the transformative vision of the National Education Policy 2020, Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir), in collaboration with the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), organized a one-day State-Level Workshop on “Capacity Building of Stakeholders for Nationwide Roll-out of NPST & NMM” at the varsity’s Campus here Saturday.

The workshop formed part of a nationwide outreach initiative aimed at strengthening teacher professionalism, mentoring structures, and quality standards across the country. The event witnessed participation from stakeholders representing Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, including teachers from School Education, principals of DIETs, nodal officers, faculty members, scholars, and teachers from KVS, NPS, CPSE institutions, and other school systems.

Nearly 200 participants attended in person, while over 800 joined online.

The workshop focused on flagship initiatives of the Ministry of Education—National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) and the National Mission for Mentoring (NMM), which are designed to establish clear, nationally benchmarked professional standards for teachers and to create a structured mentoring ecosystem that supports continuous professional development across career stages.

The message about NPST and NMM from Shri. Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education, for the workshop was read out by a research scholar Ms. Madhumita Pradhan. The Video Messages of Shri Jayant Chaudhry, Hon’ble Minister of State for Education, Shri Vikas Gupta, Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Professor Pankaj Arora, Hon’ble Chairperson, NCTE were also played on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, CUKashmir Vice-Chancellor, Prof A. Ravinder Nath who was the chief guest on the occasion, described Kashmir as a “Gyan Bhoomi,” a land of knowledge and intellectual heritage. He emphasized that teaching is not merely a profession, but a commitment that shapes national character. He further emphasized that education must facilitate transformation at three levels—behavioral, perceptual, and performance-based. Teachers, he said, must understand the diverse needs of gifted, average, and passive learners, tailoring instruction to ensure equity rather than uniformity. He underscored the importance of balancing professional competence with ethical grounding and holistic development. Prof. A Ravinder Nath reflected on broader dimensions of education, including professional, technological, vocational, and liberal education, noting that modern reforms seek to harmonize these dimensions. He also highlighted the importance of work-life balance, mental well-being, and holistic growth for both teachers and students.

Delivering his address virtually from New Delhi, Shri D. K. Chaturvedi, Academic Advisor, NCTE, expressed appreciation to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. A Ravinder Nath and the CUKashmir for hosting the workshop. He described the gathering as a landmark achievement in NCTE’s ongoing mission to conduct 30 such workshops across the country, aimed at registering at least 25,000 teachers on the NPST portal and one lakh mentors on the NMM platform. He emphasized that NPST and NMM are not merely digital portals but comprehensive frameworks intended to equip teachers for the dynamic and evolving demands of 21st-century classrooms.

Speaking on the occasion, Registrar, Dr. Nisar Ahmad Mir, said that while India today has one of the largest higher education networks in the world, access and equity—long-standing goals of policy—have largely been addressed through expansion and inclusive provisions. “However, excellence remains the defining challenge before the education system.” In this context, he emphasized that the NEP-2020 has ushered in a transformative vision, and initiatives such as NPST and NMM are vital instruments in realizing that aspiration for quality and professional standards in teaching.

In his address, Prof Y. Sreekanth, Member of the NPST Implementation Committee and NCTE Resource Person, outlined three essential dimensions embedded within NPST: preparation, practice, and performance. “Teachers must prepare continuously for future challenges, translate preparation into effective classroom practice, and ultimately demonstrate performance through improved student learning outcomes and holistic development.” He explained that NPST envisions three progressive levels of professional growth—Proficient, Advanced, and Expert. He further added that mentoring under NMM will enable experienced and capable educators to guide others, fostering collaborative learning communities rather than isolated teaching practices.

In her speech, Dr. Asha Sundaram of NCTE highlighted that the workshop was organized under the theme “Advancing through NEP 2020 – Samarth Shikshak, Saksham Bharat.” She hailed the CUKashmir for its academic vibrancy and its proactive engagement in implementing the Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP), including sensitization initiatives conducted in collaboration with SCERTs. She emphasized that the NEP 2020 places teachers at the core of educational transformation, advocating merit-based career progression, professional autonomy, and continuous development.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Prof. Syed Zahoor Ahmad Geelani, Programme Coordinator and Dean School of Education, emphasized the transformative potential of these initiatives. “Today’s gathering is not merely an academic event; it is a decisive step towards operationalising the transformative vision of NEP-2020, a policy that seeks to reposition teachers at the very centre of educational reform,” Prof. Syed Zahoor said. He added that "NPST provides a comprehensive architecture for defining what it truly means to be a professional teacher in 21st-century India,". "Similarly, the NMM institutionalised a culture of guided professional growth, fostering collaboration, reflective practice, and intergenerational academic leadership."

Sr. Asst Prof. Dr. Firdous Ahmad Sofal conducted the programme proceedings and said the workshop forms part of NCTE’s campaign to engage higher education institutions in strengthening school education through structured partnerships.

The technical sessions that followed provided participants with comprehensive insights into the NPST framework, including professional standards, career progression pathways, and competency benchmarks. Detailed demonstrations of the NPST and NMM digital portals guided teachers through the registration and on boarding processes. Interactive discussions allowed stakeholders to raise queries, share regional concerns, and propose strategies for effective implementation.