Governor Inaugurates National Conclave on Teacher Capacity Building at IIT Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati on Friday said education plays a crucial role in shaping the future of individuals, society and the nation while inaugurating the National Conclave 2026 at IIT Bhubaneswar.

The two-day conclave has been organised by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) in collaboration with IIT Bhubaneswar to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders for the nationwide rollout of the National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST) and the National Mission for Mentoring (NMM), in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The event has brought together educators, administrators, policymakers and representatives from school education departments of 12 eastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal.

Participants include directors of State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs), principals of District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), state nodal officers, and heads and teachers from Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, CBSE schools and state board institutions.

Highlighting the diverse participation, the Governor said it reflects the unity and diversity of India’s education system. In his address, Dr. Kambhampati described teachers as architects of students’ mindsets, curiosity and sense of responsibility, playing a vital role in shaping the nation’s future. He also referred to India’s ancient guru-shishya tradition, which emphasises knowledge along with values and character building.

Pointing to the rapid global transformation driven by technology, artificial intelligence, digital connectivity and globalisation, he stressed that the education system must adapt to these changes. Students, he said, must be prepared not only for examinations but also for creativity, entrepreneurship and emerging global challenges.

The Governor also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for introducing NEP 2020 as a forward-looking roadmap to modernise India’s education system for the 21st century. He also commended Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his role in implementing the reforms.

He noted that while more than five years have passed since the introduction of NEP 2020, real transformation will require empowering teachers with necessary skills, professional standards and continuous support rather than relying solely on policy documents.

Dr. Kambhampati highlighted NPST and NMM as key initiatives under NEP 2020 aimed at strengthening teacher professionalism and promoting lifelong learning. NPST provides a framework outlining teachers’ competencies, values and career progression, while NMM seeks to build a nationwide pool of mentors to support teachers and strengthen the teaching community.

He added that such conclaves serve as important platforms to bridge policy with practice through capacity building, information sharing and demonstrations of digital platforms related to NPST and NMM.

The conclave also reinforces the vision of “Samarth Shikshak, Sashakt Bharat” (Capable Teachers, Empowered India), promoting inclusive, innovative and future-ready education across the country.