Paper Title: Teacher Professional Development in the Light of NEP 2020: Challenges and Opportunities in Indian Teacher Education
Author:
Abstract:
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 places teacher professional development at the core of educational transformation in India, recognizing teachers as key agents of change in achieving holistic, inclusive, and competency-based education. NEP 2020 emphasizes continuous professional development (CPD), multidisciplinary exposure, digital integration, reflective practice, and merit-based career progression for teachers across all levels. This paper examines teacher professional development in the light of NEP 2020, focusing on emerging opportunities such as the National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST), online and blended training platforms, school-based mentoring, and integration of technology-enabled learning. At the same time, it critically analyzes persistent challenges including infrastructural disparities, digital divide, resistance to change, workload pressures, and gaps between policy vision and ground-level implementation. The study argues that effective teacher professional development under NEP 2020 requires strong institutional support, adequate funding, contextualized training models, and a culture of lifelong learning. Strengthening these dimensions can significantly enhance teacher quality and contribute to sustainable educational reform in India.
Keywords:Teacher Professional Development; NEP 2020; Indian Teacher Education; Continuous Professional Development; Educational Reform
DOI Link – https://doi.org/10.63431/AIJITR/2.VI.2025.80-89
Review By – Dr. Parimal Sarkar and Dr. Amit Adhikari