Building a Culture of Collaborative Teaching with Shaikshik Samwad

Empowered teachers are the cornerstone of quality education. Yet for many teachers, especially in government schools, opportunities for peer learning and collaboration remain limited. This was especially true during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, which left teachers disconnected and classrooms struggling.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020  recognises this gap and recommends continuous professional development to help teachers stay current with innovations and best practices in education. 

To support this vision, Peepul partnered with the School Education Department of Madhya Pradesh under the CM Rise Professional Development Programme. Together, they launched Shaikshik Samwads into 2021–22 in a blended format across all 52 districts, continuing in 2022–23 at both State and District levels. Learnings from the blended-mode Shaikshik Samwads inspired the expansion to Cluster-level Samwads, which were launched in the academic year 2024-25, after a pilot study done by the state.  

Under this project, Peepul began supporting Samwads for grade 6-8 teachers, while other partners like The Education Alliance, under Mission Ankur supported Grade 1-5, across the State at ~3100+ Jan Shiksha Kendras (Cluster Resource Centers). The Samwads focused on improving school and classroom practices, encouraging innovation, and addressing local challenges through in-person, peer-led academic discussions. For Grades 6–8, the topic of discussions focused on building engaging classrooms. The impact has been remarkable: over ~43000 teachers from these grades participated in four Samwads each month from September 2024 to January 2025.  

One story that stands out is that of Mr. Santosh Modi, a dedicated middle school teacher from Integrated Middle School, Meharja in District Khargone, Madhya Pradesh. When Santosh sir first joined a Samwad session, he was hesitant to speak. Like many others, he wasn’t sure if his ideas or questions would be valued. But the welcoming, peer-driven nature of the Samwad helped him find his voice.  

He learned about self-and peer-assessment strategies - a simple yet powerful method to deepen student understanding. Inspired, he introduced the practice in his own classroom. Students began solving questions, checking their own work using clear criteria, and then evaluating each other’s responses. The results were transformative: increased participation, better teamwork, and deeper conceptual learning. “It created a positive environment where students support each other in learning difficult concepts,” he shared.  

Through Shaikshik Samwad, Santosh sir also visited other schools and was inspired by the creative teaching-learning materials he saw. Motivated by these observations, he started developing similar resources in his own school, further enriching the learning experience for his students.  

Peepul is proud to support thousands of teachers like Mr. Santosh Modi on this journey of learning—to nurture a culture where teachers are not just implementers, but co-creators of academic transformation. Shaikshik Samwad is more than a programme - it’s a testament to the power of community-led professional development in improving the quality of education.