Mysore/Mysuru: The National Testing Service – India (NTS-I), a unit of the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysuru, conducted an orientation programme titled “Basics of Testing and Evaluation in Kannada with Reference to NEP 2020” for final-year B.Ed. students of Vidya Vikas College of Education.

The programme aimed to build assessment literacy among future educators, aligning with the transformative goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Inaugurating the event, Dr. Rajagopal, Principal of Vidya Vikas College of Education, emphasised the foundational role of language in communication, innovation and learning.

He noted that NEP 2020 calls for educators to be multilingual, technologically skilled, and capable of fostering interdisciplinary learning.

Dr. Pankaj Dwivedi, Assistant Director of CIIL and Officer-in-Charge of NTS-I, spoke on the evolving landscape of teacher training under NEP 2020. He advocated for modern approaches to teaching, testing, and evaluation, urging educators to adopt reflective practices that bridge existing pedagogical gaps.

Presiding over the inaugural session, Prof. Umarani Pappuswamy, Professor-cum-Deputy Director at CIIL, called for a paradigm shift in classroom assessments.

“Evaluation must go beyond textbook grammar and rote memorisation to reflect authentic language use,” she said. Drawing inspiration from India’s gurukula traditions, she highlighted observation, dialogue, and storytelling as powerful tools for assessment.

The programme was coordinated by Dr. Pankaj Dwivedi, with Prof. Shailendra Mohan, Director of CIIL, serving as chief patron. Over 92 teacher trainees participated in the orientation programme.