Kohima, August 3 (MExN): Over 200 government school teachers from across Nagaland participated in a five-day virtual training session on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) from July 28 to August 1, aimed at deepening their engagement with SEL practices and reaffirming their commitment to student well-being.
Organised by the Department of School Education (DoSE) in collaboration with Dream a Dream, the training programme was a follow-up to the in-person SEL Ambassador Trainings held in 2024. The participants, having undergone Phase 1, 2, and refresher sessions, have remained engaged through bi-monthly campaigns and webinars.
The sessions were conducted in four batches, with each lasting three hours. Senior officials from the Department—Additional Director Deenabandhu Panda, Deputy Director Mary Neilhouvonuo, and Assistant Directors Gloria Ezung and Imtisangla—formally inaugurated the programme. They acknowledged the teachers’ sustained involvement and highlighted the importance of SEL in building inclusive classrooms, particularly for students from vulnerable backgrounds. The officials also noted SEL’s alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s vision of holistic development.
The first day of training focused on building a shared purpose through narrative sharing and small group discussions. The second day included arts-based activities such as poetry, doodling, and mind mapping, enabling participants to reflect on their emotional well-being and reimagine safe classroom practices.
The programme incorporated experiential learning, peer dialogue, and reflective practices grounded in teachers’ experiences. It is part of an ongoing effort to revitalise the SEL Ambassador community and reinforce their role in creating compassionate, student-centred learning environments.
