On 28th August 2025, four teachers from the Sundarban region came to Cheenta Academy’s Kolkata office for the first time. They were from different age groups and different work backgrounds. The team included Sudipti Mondal (42), Chandra (22), Suveccha (26), and Ruma (27). Each of them brought their own experiences, dreams, and challenges.
The training began with introductions. The teachers spoke about their goals in life and also the problems they face in their journey. Some of the common issues they shared were local politics, social pressures, and lack of family support.
The day’s sessions taught the teachers some important ideas. They learnt about integrated learning and how to make a classroom student-friendly. They also learnt about evaluation methods, types of assessments, and simple ways of giving reinforcement.
Along with these topics, they did some practical work. They practised how to use scaffolding to help students learn better. They also learnt how to switch on a computer, do basic typing, and prepare simple lesson plans.
Churni Bhoumik, the guide, observed that the participants were not very confident in English. She suggested that the training materials should be in Bengali or in both English and Bengali. She also advised that the sessions should focus more on practice, with only a little theory at the beginning. In addition, she pointed out that the teachers face many social challenges, so they will need strong support and guidance to feel empowered.
Going forward, the plan for the coming weeks is to supervise lesson plan preparation on a weekly basis, integrate computer training with all teacher development sessions, and conduct a comprehensive evaluation at the end of one month through both practical and written examinations.
The first day of the Sundarban Faculty Training was a very important milestone. It was the beginning of a planned training journey for the teachers. It also created a bridge between the dreams of the Sundarban teachers and the academic vision of Cheenta Academy in Kolkata.
