Sikkim Education Department expands special numeracy programme to all government schools

The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) under the Education Department of Sikkim has commenced the expansion of its Special Numeracy Programme to all government schools from the 2025-26 academic year. Launched in July 2023 in 253 schools under the NIPUN Bharat NIPUN Sikkim Mission, the programme aims to make numeracy effortless and fear-free for young students.

More than 34 State Resource Group (SRG) members, 40 mentor teachers, and 16 nodal teachers have undergone rigorous training to equip 767 remaining schools with trained teachers for classes 1 and 2. The next training phase will be conducted at 47 cluster-level schools.

To ensure school heads are fully prepared for the programme’s expansion, district-level orientation sessions were held:

- Gangtok and Mangan districts: February 4, at SCERT Gangtok (195 attendees)

- Pakyong district: February 5, at Dikling SSS, Pakyong (115 attendees)

- Namchi district: February 11, at Namchi New Secondary School (227 attendees)

- Soreng and Gyalshing districts: February 12, at Jorethang Community Hall (230 attendees)

Principals from various schools shared positive feedback on the programme’s impact, with many noting improved teacher engagement and student participation. SCERT Director Dr. Rabin Chhetri and Additional Director Tshering Lhamu Bhutia set the orientation’s context, while Deputy Director and Project Coordinator Rajiv Philip conducted presentations on the expansion strategy.