UNESCO and RIE NCERT Bhubaneswar Launch Workshop to Embed Health and Well-being in Teacher Training

Bhubaneswar, Oct 29 — In a landmark move to reshape teacher education, the UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia and the Regional Institute of Education (RIE), NCERT Bhubaneswar, have jointly launched a three-day workshop aimed at integrating health and well-being into the pre-service teacher education curriculum.

Held from October 29–31, the workshop brings together academicians, curriculum developers, and teacher educators from across Odisha and other Indian states to develop supplementary materials aligned with the Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP).

This initiative follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNESCO and RIE NCERT earlier this year.

The collaboration seeks to embed key aspects of physical, mental, and social well-being into teacher training, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 4, and 5. Participants will adapt content from the School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP) to equip future educators with tools to foster safe, inclusive, and health-promoting learning environments.

Prof. Manasi Goswami, Principal of RIE Bhubaneswar, emphasised the importance of global best practices, while Prof. H.K. Senapaty highlighted the need to integrate health components into pedagogy and assessment.

UNESCO’s Sarita Jadav underscored the urgency of prioritising well-being in education systems.

Educators from 14 institutions across Odisha, along with representatives from Mysuru, Shillong, Port Blair, Jaipur, and Saraikela, are participating in the workshop.

The event also features virtual attendance from key teacher education colleges nationwide.

The outcome of this initiative is expected to shape future curricula that promote emotional well-being, gender equality, digital safety, nutrition awareness, and respectful relationships—ensuring holistic development for both educators and learners.