*SCERT Uttarakhand in collaboration with Udyam Learning* *Foundation organized a three- day State Reference Group Workshop on ‘Kaushalam’*
*Dehradun, May 15, 2025* : Studies in Uttarakhand are no longer confined to books. Taking another step towards education that enables children with real life skills, a three-day ‘ *Kaushalam State Reference Group Workshop’* was successfully organized in Dehradun. This workshop was organized in collaboration with Udyam Learning Foundation in the auditorium of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).
The workshop was attended by *Kaushalam* coordinators from all District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) and members of SCERT. Training was given on the new Kaushalam curriculum designed for students of classes 9th to 12th so that these State Reference Group members can further train other teachers and master trainers.
*In this three-day training, the objectives of the curriculum for all four classes were clearly explained to the participants and exercises were also conducted accordingly:*
* *Class 9* : Problem Solving Project: Students learnt the art of problem solving by deeply understanding the problems of their schools.
* *Class 10:* Career Exploration Project: Students identified their interests and strengths in various career fields, conducted research, and gained knowledge.
* *Class 11* : Business Project: Students worked on a business project keeping in mind the 3P concept (People, Planet, Profit).
* *Class 12* : Interest Based Project: Students designed their own project based on their interests.
*All the sessions were designed in such a way that the State Reference Group members, i.e., Master Trainers,* not only understood these project-based courses but also experienced them personally at all the four levels, which includes problem solving, career exploration, vocational thinking and interest-based creativity. The participation of teachers and trainers was not just a formal training but also the beginning of a change in the traditional concept of teaching and connecting with students with a new approach.
SCERT played the main role in conducting this workshop, while *Udyam* Learning Foundation was deeply involved in it as a partner organization. Its objective is to make education practical and useful in life, going beyond bookish knowledge.
*Many senior educationists participated in the inaugural session* . In the inaugural session of the program, Additional Director of SCERT Uttarakhand, Padmandra Shaklani gave his important guidance to all the present participants about the importance of Kaushalam program and its implementation on the ground. He encouraged all the participants to understand the Kaushalam curriculum in depth for the next three days, so that that students can be benefitted.
Underlining the need and utility of Kaushalam, Additional Director of SCERT Uttarakhand, Shri Padmendra Shaklani said, “This training is a responsibility so that every teacher can understand these subjects deeply and pass on the same to the students.”
Assistant Director Dr. K N Bijalwan conducted the program as per the set objectives and emphasized on developing the concept of entrepreneurial teacher, entrepreneurial school and entrepreneurial district. He also said that coordination should be done with other departments to encourage business on local basis.
State coordinator of Kaushalam program, Mr. Sunil Bhatt said, “This workshop is not just a training but also a concrete initiative towards change in education at the state level. Every class guides the student in a specific direction, somewhere problem solving is being taught, somewhere career exploration is taking place, somewhere innovation and presentation understanding is being given, so that teachers can also see their role from a new perspective.”
*State coordinator of Udyam Learning Foundation, Mr. Rohit Gupta said* , “Kaushalam is a visionary program, which connects education with employment and life. This training will prove to be a big achievement for the state in the coming times.”*In the coming days, these SRG trainers will further train master trainers,* so that they can organize effective, interactive and motivational sessions for teachers in their districts. This is not just a medium to share information, but the beginning of change in education, where teachers themselves become the carriers of this change.