30 September 2026 (Navroze Bureau) Hoshiarpur: The District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Hoshiarpur, organized a special training programme for teachers on the Life Skills Curriculum under the leadership of DIET Principal Dharmendra Sharma. The training was led by Dr. Ritu Kumra, a faculty member at DIET and coordinator of the Life Skills Training Programme.
Dr. Ritu Kumra said that during the previous academic session, the programme was launched as a pilot project in two schools each in 15 districts of Punjab. Two schools from Hoshiarpur district were also selected during the initial phase. In the current academic session, the programme has been expanded to 40 schools in the district, comprising 20 experimental schools and 20 control schools. A total of 35 teachers from the schools where the curriculum is to be actively implemented were trained as part of the programme.
She further informed that the coordinators from the 15 concerned districts have prepared an Activity Manual to guide teachers. The manual has been reviewed by experts from SCERT Punjab and will be provided to teachers to facilitate the effective implementation of life skills education in schools.
Based on the WHO Life Skills Framework and aligned with NEP 2020 and NCF 2023, the curriculum uses activity-based learning, storytelling, art-integrated methods, dialogue and reflection. It aims to help students develop self-awareness, emotional resilience, communication skills, empathy, critical thinking and responsible decision-making abilities.
Emphasizing the importance of the initiative, Dr. Ritu Kumra said that life skills are one of the greatest needs of the present time. Such skills can help reduce mental pressure and anxiety among students, protect them from anti-social elements in society, and prepare learners to face the challenges of the 21st century.
Dr. Hardeep from S.S.S.S. Handwal and Headmistress Harpreet Kaur of Digana Kalan, who had participated in state-level training sessions, also supported Dr. Ritu Kumra in conducting the training and shared their practical, ground-level experiences with the participating teachers.
At the conclusion of the training, the teachers expressed great enthusiasm and commitment towards implementing the curriculum in their classrooms and creating a safe, supportive and positive learning environment for students.