The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Tripura, and Sterlite EdIndia Foundation jointly organised the Inter-College Teaching Plan Competition 2026 on September 16. The state-level event brought teacher trainees from six Teacher Education Institutions together for live classroom demonstrations at Abhaynagar Nazrul Smriti Vidyalaya in Agartala.
The programme ended with a felicitation ceremony at the SCERT office in Agartala. The event focused on giving trainee teachers practical exposure to lesson planning, classroom delivery and pedagogical methods before they begin their school internships.
Six teacher education institutions participate
Teacher trainees from six institutions took part in the competition. They included four District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs)—DIET Agartala, DIET Kamalpur, DIET Kakraban and DIET Kailashahar.
The College of Teacher Education (CTE), Kumarghat, and Bhavan’s Tripura College of Teacher Education also participated.
B.C. Debbarma, Additional Director, SCERT Tripura, and Sandeep Sarda, Lead–Programmes, Sterlite EdIndia Foundation, attended the event.
19 trainees reach state-level final
The competition began with 328 teacher trainees in its first phase. The organisers shortlisted 19 trainees for the final round.
The finalists represented their respective institutions at the state-level event. They then demonstrated their classroom teaching abilities before a panel of evaluators.
The organisers designed the competition to improve the lesson-planning and classroom-delivery skills of D.El.Ed. teacher trainees. It also aimed to help trainees apply pedagogical concepts in real classroom situations.
Each finalist conducted a 20-minute live teaching session for a selected grade at Abhaynagar Nazrul Smriti Vidyalaya.
The evaluators examined several aspects of the sessions. These included lesson planning, teaching delivery, classroom engagement and the implementation of the planned lesson.
The judging panel included retired SCERT officials, teachers and Assistant Professors. They assessed the trainees’ ability to translate their lesson plans into effective classroom practice and respond to the demands of a live teaching environment.
Competition provides practical classroom exposure
The programme went beyond a conventional competition. It gave teacher trainees an opportunity to experience classroom teaching and reflect on their performance before entering their school internships.
The live sessions exposed participants to practical challenges linked to classroom management, student engagement and communication. They also had to make decisions during the sessions and adjust their teaching methods according to learners’ needs.
The organisers said the experience could help trainees connect their theoretical learning with actual classroom practice.
Ankita Saha wins competition
The competition ended with Ankita Saha of DIET Kakraban emerging as the winner.
Sagarika Acharjee of DIET Agartala secured the first runner-up position, while Sutapa Rani Nath of DIET Kailashahar finished as the second runner-up.
Speaking about her experience, Ankita Saha said the programme helped her understand how to prepare a lesson and conduct a class effectively within a limited period. She also said the experience would prove useful during the upcoming internship.
SCERT, Sterlite EdIndia Foundation highlight teacher preparation
The felicitation programme at SCERT, Agartala, recognised the participating trainees for their efforts and achievements. The organisers also acknowledged the role of evaluators, volunteers, teacher educators and participating institutions in conducting the event.
B.C. Debbarma said such competitions help teacher trainees connect their teacher education with practical classroom experiences. He said planning and delivering lessons before internships can build confidence, strengthen pedagogical skills and encourage trainees to think about ways to make learning more engaging.
Debbarma also highlighted the collaboration between SCERT Tripura and Sterlite EdIndia Foundation in creating professional development opportunities for future teachers.
Sandeep Sarda said moving from pedagogical theory to classroom application forms an important part of teacher preparation. He said the competition gave trainees a structured setting to practise that transition, receive feedback and reflect on their teaching approaches.
Sarda also said the foundation was encouraged by the participation of institutions and trainees from across Tripura. He expressed hope that such practical experiences would improve classroom readiness, confidence and commitment to continuous learning among future educators.
Focus on practical foundations of teacher education
The initiative reflects the joint efforts of SCERT Tripura and Sterlite EdIndia Foundation to strengthen pre-service teacher education. It created a platform where trainees could plan, practise and demonstrate classroom teaching in a practical setting.
The organisers said such activities can support reflective practice and professional development. They also provide teacher trainees with early exposure to the demands of classroom teaching before they begin their formal internships.
SCERT Tripura serves as the state’s apex academic institution for school education. It works in areas including curriculum development, teacher education, academic research, training and quality improvement.
Sterlite EdIndia Foundation is a non-profit organisation that works to strengthen India’s public education system. Its work includes teacher professional development, institutional strengthening and data-driven decision-making. The foundation partners with state governments and academic institutions to support systemic improvements in education.
