Participants of the first XPDITTE batch in Mizoram

The southernmost outpost of North Eastern India is Mizoram, the land of the Blue Mountains lying between Bangladesh on the West and Myanmar on the East. A sustained drive towards education has led the state to have a highly impressive literacy rate of 88.06%, the second highest in India.

On the 16th of March 2009, the Intel® Teach, Pre-Service Program was launched in Mizoram in order to provide professional development training to teacher educators from all colleges of education.

The event held at SCERT (State Council for Education Research and Training) Aizwal was graced by the honorable presence of the Education & Human Resources Development Minister, Shri. Lalsawta. Shri. K. Riachho, Commissioner, Education & Human Resources Development presided over the function. Other dignitaries who graced the occasion included Ms. Malsawmthangi, Director of School Education, Ms. Sangthanmawii, Joint Director, SCERT, Principals and teacher educators from the DIETs.

Education Minister Sri Lalswata Shri K Riachho, Commissioner

In his inauguration address Shri K Riachho, commissioner Education & Human Resources Development said, “We have to prepare and equip school children with the latest technologies so that they can face the challenges of a rapidly changing world and as our future depends on school children, it is the duty of the teacher to bring about this change.” The commissioner was very appreciative of the Intel Initiatives and felt that the TAL training would provide new direction to teachers and educators.

Ms Malini Mukherjee, the Pre-service Program Mentor shared the world wide work being done by Intel in education. She emphasized on the need of integration of technology in education and its benefits to an institute, its teachers, the students and the society.

Shri Lalsawta, Minister of Education & Human Resources Development Government of Mizoram who gave the inaugural address applauded Intel for its endeavor in spreading technology aided learning and was certain that education in Mizoram would benefit from Intel’s training. The minister expressed his keenness to set up an Education Reform Commission for Mizoram for overseeing the teaching and learning processes. He also expressed his desire to review the Mizoram Education Service Rules.

As the first and only organization to provide professional development training to teacher educators for the integration of technology in education in the state of Mizoram, Intel Initiatives will go a long way in helping the state in achieving its IT goals.