In a significant step towards strengthening academic quality and continuous professional development of teachers, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Uttarakhand has issued detailed implementation guidelines for Cluster-Level Monthly Academic Meetings to be conducted during July to September 2026 (Second Fortnight of each month). The circular, issued on 2 July 2026, directs all Chief Education Officers, District Education Officers, and Principals of DIETs to ensure the effective implementation of these meetings across the state.
The initiative aims to institutionalize regular academic dialogue among teachers, enabling them to collaboratively improve classroom practices, lesson planning, assessment strategies, and student learning outcomes. SCERT has emphasized that these meetings should continue as a structured academic process rather than isolated events. The detailed action plans and reference materials for both Primary and Upper Primary levels have been shared with all districts for implementation.
Key Decisions to be Implemented in Schools
1. Monthly Cluster Academic Meetings
All schools must actively participate in monthly academic meetings during the second fortnight of July, August, and September 2026, following the academic calendar prepared by SCERT.
2. Teacher-Centric Professional Development
The meetings will focus on:
- Preparing classroom action plans.
- Improving teaching-learning practices.
- Discussing pedagogical innovations.
- Sharing best classroom practices among teachers.
- Solving academic challenges collaboratively.
3. Implementation Through Cluster Resource Centres
Meetings will be organized at the Cluster (Sankul) level, ensuring participation of teachers from:
- Primary Schools
- Upper Primary Schools
- Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools wherever applicable.
4. Standardized Academic Reference Material
SCERT has supplied:
- Detailed monthly work plans.
- Session-wise academic agenda.
- Reference materials for discussions.
- Teaching-learning support resources.
These materials will ensure uniform implementation across all districts.
5. Budget Provision
A major decision in the letter is the approval of financial support under Samagra Shiksha Annual Work Plan & Budget 2026–27.
- ₹1,000 per Cluster per meeting has been approved.
- Around 670 school clusters across Uttarakhand will receive financial assistance to organize these meetings effectively.
6. Collaboration with Azim Premji Foundation
SCERT has directed that the implementation of these academic meetings will continue with academic support from the Azim Premji Foundation, ensuring quality facilitation and professional mentoring during the sessions.
7. State-Level Monitoring
SCERT will conduct state-level online review meetings, beginning in July 2026, under the guidance of the Director, Academic Research & Training. Separate instructions regarding the review schedule will be communicated to districts.
Expected Outcomes
The initiative is expected to:
- Strengthen Continuous Professional Development (CPD) of teachers.
- Promote collaborative learning among educators.
- Improve classroom planning and teaching quality.
- Enhance competency-based and activity-based teaching.
- Strengthen implementation of NEP 2020 recommendations.
- Improve student learning outcomes through evidence-based teaching practices.
- Establish a sustainable academic support system at the grassroots level.
