Shillong, August 08: Under the MPOWER Training of Master Trainers Programme, which is currently in year 2 of implementation, a six-day intensive training was successfully conducted from 3rd to 8th August 2026 at the Meghalaya Teacher Training Academy (MTTA), Malki, Shillong.
The programme focused on strengthening the capacity of Master Trainers in the key thematic areas of Life Skills, Financial Literacy, Mental Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health, marking an important milestone in the implementation of the MPOWER programme and Meghalaya’s continued efforts to strengthen teacher professional development, promote holistic adolescent development, and enhance learning outcomes across the state.
The training was supported by MTTA, which provided the necessary institutional support and training facilities, while the technical sessions were delivered by the MPOWER programme partners, Magic Bus India Foundation and WorldBeing India.
Resource persons from Magic Bus India Foundation and WorldBeing India conducted the six-day capacity-building programme. A total of 65 Master Trainers from seven districts, namely East Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, East Jaintia Hills, South West Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and North Garo Hills, participated in the intensive training programme.
The programme is designed to strengthen knowledge, skills and practical facilitation competencies required to effectively lead the next phase of teacher training under the MPOWER programme. Following the successful completion of the programme, the Master Trainers will effectively train 1,729 teachers from SSA and Government Schools in their respective districts, supporting the effective implementation of the MPOWER programme.
“The MTTA Master Trainer training marks an important step towards strengthening teacher capacity across Meghalaya. By equipping our Master Trainers with practical facilitation skills and a deeper understanding of Life Skills, Mental Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Financial Literacy Education, we are laying the foundation for more inclusive and learner-centred classrooms. I sincerely appreciate the dedicated efforts of the MPOWER team and our partner organisations in making this training a success,” Said Dr David M. Nongrum, Associate Professor, DERT & Additional Director, Meghalaya Teacher Training Academy (MTTA)
The training has equipped participants with the knowledge, skills, and practical facilitation techniques required to deliver effective, high-quality teacher training in Life Skills, Financial Literacy, Mental Health, and Sexual and Reproductive Health.
These thematic areas are integral components of the programme and contribute to the holistic development of adolescents by fostering resilience, responsible decision-making, emotional well-being, healthy relationships, financial awareness, and safe and inclusive learning environments.
Further, through these components, participants developed a deeper understanding of adolescent development, learner-centred teaching practices and inclusive pedagogical approaches, while strengthening the facilitation skills required to deliver engaging, meaningful and impactful training for teachers across Meghalaya.
The programme commenced with an orientation on the MPOWER programme, followed by the inaugural address delivered by Smti. J.U. Kharpuri, MCS, Director, DERT, who emphasised the importance of investing in teacher capacity as a cornerstone of educational transformation.
Throughout the six-day programme, participants engaged in interactive sessions, practical demonstrations, peer-learning activities, mock facilitation sessions and classroom simulations designed to strengthen their thematic understanding and facilitation skills. The experiential and participatory learning approach enhanced the confidence, knowledge and practical competencies of the Master Trainers.
The concluding day of the programme included a comprehensive review of key learnings, a post-training assessment to evaluate participants’ progress, and the preparation of district-level teacher training plans to guide the effective rollout of the next phase of the programme.
“The enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by the Master Trainers throughout the programme have been truly encouraging. We hope that the learnings on Life Skills, Mental Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Financial Literacy Education will enable teachers to create a safe, supportive, inclusive and engaging learning environment where every child learns and feels accepted.” Said Dr. Caraline Y. Kharmalki, Assistant Professor, DERT & Nodal Officer, MPOWER
The MTTA reaffirmed its commitment to building a skilled and future-ready teaching workforce capable of responding to the evolving needs of learners by strengthening teacher capacity and promoting innovative, inclusive and child-centred pedagogical practices. MTTA continues to play a pivotal role in advancing Meghalaya’s vision of quality education that equips every child with the knowledge, skills and values required to thrive in an ever-changing world.
