65 master trainers to strengthen teacher capacity across seven districts in state
Shillong, Aug 8: Under the MPOWER training of mastertrainers programme, which is currently in year 2 of implementation, a six-day intensive training was successfully conducted from August 3 to 8 at the Meghalaya Teacher TrainingAcademy (MTTA), Malki,here
The programme focused on strengthening the capacity of master trainers in the key thematic areas of life skills, financial literacy, mental health and
sexual and reproductive health, marking an important milestone in the implementation of the
MPOWER programme and Meghalaya’s continued efforts to strengthen teacher professional development, promote holistic adolescent development, and enhance learning outcomes across
the state. The training was supported by MTTA, which provided the necessary institutional support
and training facilities, while the technical sessions were delivered by the MPOWER programme partners, Magic Bus India Foundation and WorldBeing India.
Resource persons from Magic Bus India Foundation and WorldBeing India conducted the six-day
capacity-building programme. A total of 65 master trainers from seven districts, namely East Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, East Jaintia Hills, South West Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and North Garo Hills, participated in the intensive training programme. The programme is
designed to strengthen knowledge, skills and practical facilitation competencies required to effectively lead the next phase of teacher training under the MPOWER programme.
Following the successful completion of the programme, the master trainers will effectively train 1,729 teachers
from SSA and government schools in their respective districts, supporting the effective implementation of the MPOWER programme.
“The MTTA master trainer training marks an important step towards strengthening teacher capacity across Meghalaya. By equipping the master trainers with practical facilitation skills and
a deeper understanding of life skills, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and financial literacy, education, the goverment is laying the foundation for more inclusive and learner-centred
classrooms.
“I sincerely appreciate the dedicated efforts of the MPOWER team and our partner organisations in making this training a success.” said Dr David M. Nongrum, Associate Professor, DERT & Additional Director, Meghalaya Teacher Training Academy (MTTA)
The training has equipped participants with the knowledge, skills, and practical facilitation techniques required to deliver effective, high-quality teacher training in life skills.
The programme commenced with an orientation on the MPOWER programme, followed by the
inaugural address delivered by J.U. Kharpuri, Director, DERT, who emphasised the importance of investing in teacher capacity as a cornerstone of educational transformation.
Throughout the six-day programme, participants engaged in interactive sessions, practical demonstrations, peer-learning activities, mock facilitation sessions and classroom simulations
designed to strengthen their thematic understanding and facilitation skills. The experiential and participatory learning approach enhanced the confidence, knowledge and practical competencies
of the master trainers.
The concluding day of the programme included a comprehensive review of key learnings, a posttraining assessment to evaluate participants’ progress, and the preparation of district-level
teacher training plans to guide the effective rollout of the next phase of the programme.
“The enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by the Master Trainers throughout the
programme have been truly encouraging. We hope that the learnings on Life Skills, Mental Health,
Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Financial Literacy Education will enable teachers to create
a safe, supportive, inclusive and engaging learning environment where every child learns and feels accepted.” said Dr. Caraline Y. Kharmalki, Assistant Professor, DERT & Nodal Officer,
MPOWER.
