What is NISHTHA Scheme?

Teachers are the backbone of our education system. For them to flourish, it is important that they undergo training to stay updated about the latest changes in teaching, learning and other aspects.  Hence, one of the world’s largest teacher training programmes, the NISHTHA Scheme, was launched by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education (earlier MHRD) as part of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) was initially launched in 2019. Subsequently, in 2020, an online version, NISHTHA Online, was introduced. Moreover, the main objective of the NISHTHA scheme is to motivate and equip teachers to encourage and foster critical thinking in students. This capacity-building programme will benefit 42 lakh government teachers across the country.

 

What are the Objectives of NISHTHA Scheme?

The main goal of NISHTHA scheme is to bring long-term improvement in the quality of school education. Moreover, teachers will be equipped with essential skills to understand and teach modern learners of the 21st century. Specifically, some of the key focus areas of the training sessions include:

• 1. Making teachers confident and professionally prepared to meet classroom challenges
• 2. Promoting competency-based learning instead of rote memorisation
• 3. Supporting the goals of NEP 2020, including inclusive education and child-centric teaching
• 4. Helping teachers adopt ICT tools and digital resources in their lesson plans
• 5. Improving learning outcomes by equipping teachers with new strategies
• 6. Building leadership skills among school heads and principals
• It focuses not just on what to teach, but also on how to teach in a way that connects with students.

 

Phases of the NISHTHA Scheme

The scheme has been rolled out in different phases based on the target group:

– NISHTHA 1.0: Started in 2019, this phase focused on teachers of Grades 1 to 8.

– NISHTHA 2.0: Designed for secondary-level teachers (Grades 9 to 12).

– NISHTHA 3.0: Aligned with NIPUN Bharat, this phase focused on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for early grades.

– NISHTHA 4.0: Introduced to support Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), covering preschool and Anganwadi educators.

 

Who will conduct NISHTHA teacher training sessions?

Experts from national, state, and district levels will train the teachers. The sessions will be conducted directly by 33,120 Key Resource Persons (KRPs) & State Resource Persons (SRPs). Furthermore, these KRPs and SRPs will be trained under 120 National Resource Persons (NRPs) selected from NCERT, NIEPA, CBSE, KVS, NVS, NGOs. The trainers will include activity-based modules, educational games, quizzes etc. for training sessions. Continuous feedback will also be provided along with an online monitoring support system and impact analysis.

 

Expected Outcomes of NISHTHA Teacher Training Programme

– Improved learning outcomes among students across all subjects

– Inclusive, safe, and supportive classroom environments

– Teachers equipped to address students’ social, emotional, and psychological needs as first-level counsellors

– Increased student creativity and engagement through use of art-integrated pedagogy

– Strengthened personal-social qualities in students for their overall development

– Effective use of ICT tools in teaching, learning, and assessments

– Stress-free and competency-based school-based assessments

– Reduction in rote learning with a shift towards activity-based, experiential learning

– Teachers and heads of schools aligned with latest educational reforms and initiatives

– Stronger academic and administrative leadership among school heads to drive continuous improvement

 

NISHTHA Certificate Download 

After successfully completing a course, teachers receive a NISHTHA certificate. The DIKSHA platform issues this certificate digitally, and users can save or print it.

 

FAQs on the NISHTHA Scheme

1. 1. What is the full form of the NISHTHA Scheme?
      A. National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement.
   2. Who can attend NISHTHA training?
      A. Teachers and school heads of government and government-aided schools. Some states allow private school teachers too.
   3. How many modules are there in NISHTHA online training?
      A. It varies by phase and level, but most teachers complete between 10 and 20 modules.
   4. Is the NISHTHA certificate valid for government records?
      A. Yes, it is recognised by the Ministry of Education and relevant departments.
   5. Is NISHTHA available in local languages?
      Yes, modules are available in several Indian languages through DIKSHA.

 

The NISHTHA Scheme is one of the most significant steps taken to transform teacher development in India. By focusing on both professional and personal growth, it ensures that teachers feel supported, valued, and ready to take on new challenges in the classroom. Furthermore, it encourages reflective practices and innovation in pedagogy.

More importantly, NISHTHA is more than just a training programme; it’s helping create a culture where teachers continuously learn and improve. As a result, when teachers grow, students thrive. For instance, if you’re a teacher, school head, or education leader, exploring NISHTHA for teachers through DIKSHA is a great place to start.