Bharti Airtel Foundation & DSEK Launch Phase-II of Teachers’ Development Programme at SCERT

Srinagar, Feb 16: Bharti Airtel Foundation, in collaboration with the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK), on Monday announced the launch of Phase 2 of its Teachers’ Professional Development Programme at the State Council of Educational Research and Training Jammu and Kashmir (SCERT) Srinagar, following the successful completion of Phase 1.

The programme is delivered through TheTeacherApp, a free digital platform offering field-tested content, collaborative spaces and practical tools to strengthen teacher capacity and improve classroom outcomes.

The launch event was attended by Syed Shabir Ahmad, JKAS, Joint Director (Central) Kashmir, DSEK; Jan Mudasir Gul, OSD CEW–DSEK; Anil Bhat, Regional Head J&K; and Veena Tyagi, Lead – Partnerships and Implementation, Bharti Airtel Foundation, among others.

Phase 1, launched on November 14, 2024, focused on three core themes—enhancing teaching through effective learning materials, strengthening foundational literacy and building numeracy skills.

More than 20,000 teachers were onboarded onto TheTeacherApp, and over 24,000 certificates were issued upon successful completion of assessments.

Outstanding teachers were felicitated for emerging as top achievers in the Teaching Learning Material (TLM) Competition conducted via the platform. Top-performing districts, with the highest course completion rates, were also recognised, and their District Nodal Officers were presented Certificates of Appreciation.

Officials said the structured modules, assessments and collaborative learning model enabled teachers to translate learning into improved classroom practices.

Building on the momentum, Phase 2 will expand its focus to technology integration and future-ready teaching practices. The new modules will cover technological skills, sustainability and life skills, as well as pedagogy and mentoring strategies.

The phase will also introduce AI-enabled learning through AI Samarth courses and webinars, equipping educators with digital tools to enhance engagement and instructional effectiveness.

Syed Shabir Ahmad said the partnership with Bharti Airtel Foundation has been transformative and expressed confidence that the Phase 2 focus on AI and technology will further strengthen teaching practices across Kashmir.

A representative of the Foundation said the strong participation in Phase 1 reflects growing acceptance of structured digital professional development and that Phase 2 will deepen technological skills and mentoring capabilities among educators.

Officials said the continued collaboration reaffirms a shared commitment to improving education quality through scalable, technology-driven teacher empowerment initiatives across the region.