Port Blair: In a landmark move aimed at transforming school education in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the State Institute of Education (SIE) has been upgraded into the Andaman & Nicobar Islands State Council of Educational Research and Training (A&NI-SCERT) following the approval of the Administrator and Lieutenant Governor.
The newly constituted A&NI-SCERT will serve as the apex academic institution of the Union Territory, functioning directly under the Department of Education. The upgrade marks a significant shift in the Islands’ education framework, with the new body expected to spearhead curriculum development, educational research, teacher training and academic innovation.
Established in 1979, the State Institute of Education had been functioning under the Directorate of Education, primarily providing in-service training to teachers and supporting the monitoring and supervision of schools to improve educational standards.
According to the Department of Education, the upgraded A&NI-SCERT will provide comprehensive academic support to the Directorate of Education and play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of education from the pre-primary to senior secondary levels. It will also focus on strengthening teacher education, professional development and evidence-based educational practices.
The restructuring is expected to bring the Union Territory’s education system in closer alignment with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, paving the way for a more robust, research-driven and future-ready school education ecosystem in the Islands.
