School Mentoring by Higher Education Institutes: Teacher Training, IISER Pune
The three-day workshop for teachers on School Mentoring by Higher Education Institutes, held in IISER Pune campus for around 200 teachers in 2 batches on 27-29 January 2026 and 2-4 February 2026.
The aim of the workshop was to bring together educators from across Chattisgarh to strengthen STEM classroom teaching, and inculcate practical teaching through engaging activities.
As part of the program, the CARE project conducted focused sessions on climate education, outlining key climate concepts, local impact examples, and activities for students to get engaged in climate topics, with the aim that teachers not only become familiar with climate change and environmental health but also gets a hands on experience with practical steps towards building their own school specific climate action plans.
The 3-day workshop included presentations, discussions, thinking circle, and group work
Highlights of the Workshop
-
CARE project, in line with NEP 2020, emphasized linking climate topics to local ecosystems and livelihoods , using data literacy and project-based learning so teachers can guide students to investigate schoolyard weather patterns, energy use, and community resilience.
-
During the session, project partners from UNICEF Chattisgarh shared how the ongoing work on school safety under Safe Saturdays initiative which is a key state government school safety initiative designed to equip students with practical survival and awareness skills links.
Rahul Vishwakarma opens a dialogue on how school safety and climate action are deeply interconnected
Gurleen Kaur shares how Safe Saturday activities help students learn about safety through participation and practice.
Dr Shalini Sharma looks at understanding hazards, reducing vulnerabilities, and building preparedness in communities
-
A group activity was conducted on creating a School Climate Action Plan
where the teachers were asked to ideate all possible areas where climate action can be taken within school premises and design ideas on engaging students in climate action through eco-clubs, water audits, energy audits, etc. Groups were divided according to nearby districts to ensure similar agro-climatic zones were clubbed.
-
The groups were also asked to discuss different hazards and vulnerabilities they experience and how it impacts the school and school children.
The teachers voiced their concerns and presented their solutions and ideas to each other for a collective think.
-
Participants left with resources, activity ideas, and strategies to integrate climate education across STEM subjects, empowering them to make climate learning relevant, actionable, and student-centred.
Using group work, teachers work in different groups identifying existing hazards and vulnerabilities in their school so they can lead similar discussions in their own schools. Teachers had practice sessions on preparing a School Climate Action Plan to ideate on being climate-ready and engaging students and their colleagues in climate action.
Teacher groups discuss their analysis and ideas with the rest of the cohort.