Raipur, 23 August 2024: In a visionary step towards empowering adolescents in Chhattisgarh, the State Council of Education Research & Training (SCERT) has partnered with Magic Bus India Foundation, a leading non-profit organisation in the education and skilling space, to integrate Life Skills Education into the state’s school curriculum.

This collaboration was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in the presence of dignitaries including Shri. Rajendra Kumar Katara, IAS, SCERT Director, and Jayant Rastogi, Global CEO of Magic Bus India Foundation.

Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023, the three-year partnership aims to equip adolescents across Chhattisgarh with essential life skills. The programme will begin by reaching 800 government schools during the first two academic years, with 1,600 teachers receiving life skills training. These trained teachers will then deliver Life Skills Education to 40,000 adolescents in grades 6 to 10, initially focussing on the tribal and aspirational districts of Kanker and Kondagaon in the Bastar division. The programme will subsequently expand to cover all 33 districts in the state, ensuring life skills education reaches more adolescents across Chhattisgarh.

In the first year, the focus will be on contextualising the curriculum, with active involvement from the State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT). Master trainers will be developed by training personnel from District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), Block Resource Centres (BRCs), Cluster Resource Centres (CRCs). These master trainers will then prepare school teachers to deliver Life Skills Education effectively to the adolescents. Additionally, a monitoring and session-tracking system will be implemented through Magic Mitra, a WhatsApp-based AI chatbot, while community engagement will be promoted through Community Youth Leaders, extending the impact of the programme beyond the classroom.

This partnership reflects Chhattisgarh’s commitment to providing holistic education that goes beyond academic achievement. It focuses on equipping adolescents with life skills such as self-awareness, collaboration, empathy, decision-making, problem-solving, and communication, among others, ensuring their overall preparedness for the future. These life skills also enable adolescents to demonstrate high self-efficacy, aspirations, and resilience, resulting in improved school attendance and academic participation.

Shri. Rajendra Kumar Katara, IAS, SCERT Director, Chhattisgarh, said,” Chhattisgarh is deeply committed to the successful implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Our partnership with Magic Bus India Foundation marks a pivotal move towards imparting life skills education to our adolescents, empowering them to become self-reliant and proactive contributors to society. This initiative will not only enhance the quality of education in our state but also help in nurturing a generation of responsible and capable citizens. We are confident that this collaboration will pave the way for long-term prosperity in our communities.”

Jayant Rastogi, Global CEO, Magic Bus India Foundation, said, “Our partnership with SCERT, Government of Chhattisgarh, marks a significant step forward. We aim to bring Magic Bus India Foundation’s expertise in life skills education to the teachers and adolescents of the state. Life Skills Education forms the foundation for transforming adolescents into empowered, educated, and economically active citizens. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a more equitable and prosperous society, where every young person has the opportunity to realize their full potential, thereby contributing to the progress of the state and, ultimately, the country.”