National Seminar

The B.Ed Department of St. Thomas College organized a National Seminar on “Transforming Teacher Education Under NEP 2020: Strengths, Challenges and Opportunities”.

The program began with a cultural welcome for the guests through traditional dance and music, creating a warm and respectful atmosphere for the occasion. The welcome address was delivered by the Convenor, Dr. Deepti Santosh, who greeted the august gathering. The seminar was formally inaugurated by Principal In-charge Dr. Shiny Mendonce, who delivered the inaugural address. In her speech she spoke about the challenges and adaptability required in implementing the National Education Policy 2020.

Administrator of the College Fr. Dr. P. S. Varghese gave an enlightening speech. In his address Fr. Varghese gave references from the Upanishads.  He reflected on the deep roots of Indian knowledge traditions and connected them to modern education.

The keynote session was delivered by Dr. Alka Panda from the State Council of Educational Research and Training, Raipur. Her lecture explored the concept of Panch Kosha in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting the importance of holistic and experiential learning. She demonstrated an innovative pedagogical tool through origami Foldscope, designed by Manu Prakash, to show how simple methods can unlock scientific curiosity among students.

Dr. Hrushikesh Senapaty, Director of NCERT, delivered his lecture focusing on inclusivity in education, multidisciplinary learning, content mastery, and the importance of deeply understanding teaching material. He highlighted how NEP 2020 encourages teachers to move beyond rote learning and develop a more integrated and inclusive approach to education. Dr. Shishirkana Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor at DIET Raipur, spoke about teacher assessment standards, continuous professional development, and curriculum reforms required to strengthen teacher education under the new policy framework.

The seminar also included paper presentations by scholars and participants, followed by discussions that reflected on the strengths, challenges, and opportunities in transforming teacher education under NEP 2020.

Rev. Father Jacob Thomas, Principal of Mar Baselios School, was invited as the Chief Guest for the valedictory session. Father Thomas appreciated the initiative taken by the department of education and highlighted the importance of such academic discussions for improving the quality of teacher education. The entire event was anchored by Ms Shilpi, Ms. Sandra Regi,  B.Ed Sem IV students, who conducted the program with grace and confidence making the event meaningful and successful. The vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Sonia Popli, who expressed gratitude to the distinguished speakers, college authorities, organizers, participants, and students for their contribution to the success of the seminar.