A five-day residential training workshop for science and mathematics teachers is being held from July 28 to August 1 at the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Leh, under the iRISE program of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune. The training is being conducted in collaboration with the Department of School Education, UT Ladakh.

The initiative aims to promote research-based and innovative teaching practices in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. It is designed to equip teachers with modern tools and pedagogical approaches that foster interactive and engaging classroom experiences.

Over 125 science and mathematics teachers from government schools across Leh and Kargil districts, who teach students from Classes 6 to 8, are participating in the workshop. The program also seeks to bridge learning gaps and align classroom practices with the CBSE curriculum, recently implemented in government schools in Ladakh.

Post-training, the participating educators will serve as Innovation Champions (ICs) and conduct cascade workshops at the district and block levels to disseminate these practices among a broader group of teachers.

The workshop was inaugurated by Bhanu Prabha, IAS, Administrative Secretary, and Tsering Paldan, JKAS, from the Department of School Education, UT Ladakh. In her address, Bhanu Prabha highlighted the importance of nurturing curiosity and adopting an inquiry-based approach in classrooms. Drawing from her scientific background, she emphasized the relevance of the National Education Policy (NEP) in fostering scientific temperament and deeper understanding among students.

Dr. Mirza Mehdi, Principal, DIET Leh, welcomed the participants and expressed gratitude to IISER Pune and all collaborating partners. He emphasized the need for collective efforts to improve the quality of teacher training in the region.

Dr. Neeraja Dashaputre, PTO-Education at IISER Pune, outlined the broader objectives of the program, focusing on the integration of subject expertise with innovative pedagogy to empower teachers and enrich learning outcomes.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed between the Department of School Education, UT Ladakh, and IISER Pune—marking a significant step in launching the iRISE program in the Union Territory.

Prof. Sunil Bhagwat, Director of IISER Pune, along with Prof. Arnab Mukherjee (Dean, International Relations and Outreach), Prof. Devapriya Chattopadhyay (Associate Dean, IRO), and Dr. Asim Auti, Principal Technical Officer, NPTED, conveyed their best wishes to the training participants and the iRISE team.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by S.D. Nambial, Principal, DIET Kargil. Among others present at the event were Deldan Angmo, CEO Leh; Tsering Yangdol, HOD DIET Leh; Nitin Tiwane, Project Manager, iRISE; Mohd Taquee, Ladakh Coordinator; Shivani Pulse, Pradnya Pujari, and the iRISE team.

As part of the program, all participating teachers will also receive the iRISE STEM Kit, which will enable them to implement hands-on and innovative learning activities in their classrooms.