Transforming STEM Education for Tomorrow: COL-CEMCA and BIG Launch National Maths Skill Training for Teachers

The Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), in collaboration with Bharat Innovation Global (BIG), officially launched the 42-Hour Online Skill Training Programme for secondary-level mathematics teachers across India. The programme, designed to support innovative, technology-enabled, and student-centred teaching practices, has seen an overwhelming response with over 6,000 registrations from educators spanning various regions of the country.

This six-week training initiative aims to enhance teachers’ conceptual understanding, capacity to use digital tools, develop engaging classroom strategies, and make mathematics instruction more relevant and application-oriented. It combines live sessions with self-paced learning to ensure flexibility, depth, and sustained engagement.

The inauguration of the training programme brought together key voices from education and edtech. Dr B. Shadrach, Director of COL-CEMCA, delivered the keynote address, offering insights into the vision and intent behind the programme and reaffirming COL-CEMCA’s commitment to inclusive, technology-driven teacher development. Dr Shadrach described the launch as a celebration of educators excelling in mathematics and STEM teaching. He stressed the need to connect STEM subjects to real-life applications to make learning more engaging and relevant. Highlighting the role of teachers in fostering curiosity and imagination, he emphasised that mathematics is not abstract, but deeply rooted in everyday experiences, with mathematical models helping learners understand and interpret the world around them.

The session was moderated by Mr. T Khalid, Consultant at CEMCA, who welcomed participants and guided the proceedings of the day. Mr. Mohit Poonia, Senior Director at Physics Wallah, spoke on the transformative role of digital platforms in scaling up effective teacher training. Ms. Anita Sharma, Secretary of the Delhi Association of Mathematics Teachers (DAMT), shared her thoughts on grassroots outreach and the evolving role of math educators in today's classrooms. It concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Dinker Chaudhary, Senior Director at BIG, who acknowledged the contributions of all stakeholders and the enthusiastic participation of thousands of teachers.

The academic segment of the programme was introduced next, led by Mr. Ankur Sharma, Master Trainer, who brings over a decade of experience in pedagogy, faculty development, and mindset coaching. His team will be facilitating the academic journey of participants through the course of the training.

This launch marks a significant milestone in advancing professional development for mathematics educators across India. By integrating innovation, technology, pedagogy, and real-world problem-solving, the programme is poised to bring meaningful change to classroom practices and student learning outcomes.