‘Classes of Joy’: Over 2100 teachers trained under in Kulgam

Kulgam, July 31: A week-long training programme for elementary teachers under the ‘Classes of Joy’ initiative concluded today in Kulgam.In a statement issued here, the training was organised by the District Administration in collaboration with Pratham Education Foundation and the School Education Department.It aimed to enhance the capacity of teachers in bridging foundational learning gaps among students in Classes 3 to 5.The initiative based on the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach is being implemented across all 458 primary and middle schools of the district to improve foundational literacy and numeracy.Over 2,100 elementary teachers were trained in multiple batches, with each session accommodating 300 participants every day.Teachers also received teaching-learning material to support implementation.The valedictory session which was held here at Conference hall today, was presided over by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Athar Aamir Khan.He appreciated the active participation and commitment of teachers, and emphasised the need to make classrooms joyful, engaging and focused on students’ actual learning levels.DC stated that the most joyful place for a child should be the classroom and teachers have a crucial role in shaping a child’s future. He said gaps in learning do exist, but with the right approach, we can overcome them.He urged all teachers to implement the methods learnt during this training in their classrooms.The training focused on identifying learning gaps through simple assessments, grouping children according to their learning levels, and using activity-based methods to improve foundational skills. It also aimed to build teachers’ ability to provide level-specific instruction.On the occasion, teachers shared their feedback, describing the training as practical and relevant to the challenges they face. They appreciated the activity-based teaching approach and expressed the need for more such capacity-building programmes in the future.