The first batch of the two-year Diploma in Foundational Stage Education (DFSE) 2025-27 under the aegis of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Nagaland, commenced today in Kohima.
Addressing the inaugural function at the SCERT Conference Hall, Razouseyi Vese, Director of the Directorate of School Education, Nagaland, emphasized the importance of early childhood education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He stated, ”We have to take care of the nursery section of students. We have to go the extra mile. It will be a big challenge for us.”
Vese congratulated SCERT Nagaland for developing the training module on foundational stage education and expressed hope that other states would follow suit. He stressed that ”learning has no limits” and urged the trainees to adopt lifelong learning as a daily practice.
The Director also called upon teachers to impart moral values to students alongside textbook knowledge and curriculum-based education.
SCERT Additional Director Keriiiipfeii Riipreo informed that 53 primary teacher trainees from various districts of Nagaland have joined the programme. ”Many of them have already completed D.El.Ed and B.Ed courses, while a few are fresh candidates without any professional training,” she stated.
She further explained that the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 introduced a new 5+3+3+4 curricular and pedagogical structure, where the first five years constitute the Foundational Stage (ages 3 to 8). This structural reform necessitated the development of a training programme to equip teachers with the skills needed to educate children at this critical stage.
The Diploma in Foundational Stage Education (DFSE) is an SCERT Nagaland initiative, designed as a two-year course for in-service primary teachers. The programme will be delivered in a blended mode, with the teacher as the primary focus. Riipreo emphasized, ”The teacher is at the heart of the practice of education and ultimately the torchbearer of the transformation we seek.”
She further stated that the training will not only define the underlying philosophy and principles of early childhood education but also ensure effective implementation in classrooms. The programme aims to build a strong pool of competent teachers capable of addressing diverse learning needs, designing developmentally appropriate teaching-learning methods, and implementing effective assessment practices for Foundational Stage children.
“Upon successful completion of the programme, the trained teachers will be qualified to teach children at the Foundational Stage,” she added.
Providing an overview of the two-year DFSE course, Roseline Richa highlighted the importance of reconfiguring teacher training programmes in line with the 5+3+3+4 model of NEP 2020. She emphasized that accomplished teachers with the necessary knowledge, skills, and values are essential for improving teaching practices at different educational stages—Foundational, Preparatory, Middle, and Secondary.
Richa further stated, ”Since teachers are at the center of fundamental reforms in the education system, this training aims to prepare them in alignment with the pedagogical and curricular restructuring of school education under NEP 2020.”
She described the initiative as an effort to make teacher training relevant to the developmental needs of young learners, thereby enhancing the quality of teaching-learning practices. The training’s objectives include:
· Equipping teachers with knowledge of child psychology and development.
· Understanding the importance of developmentally appropriate practices at the Foundational Stage.
· Cultivating social sensitivity, affection for children, and respect for their uniqueness.
· Providing appropriate interventions for inclusive classrooms.
· Facilitating collaboration with parents, communities, government bodies, and organizations to raise awareness and encourage active involvement in early childhood education.
The inaugural program was chaired by Veketulu Veyie.