Promoting Holistic Education in Jammu & Kashmir with Life Skills Curriculum Program

2nd July, 2026: It was a significant milestone in the education landscape of Jammu & Kashmir as the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), J&K, in partnership with the Bharti Airtel Foundation, launched the Life Skills Curriculum Program for Classes VI–XII in the region.

This pioneering initiative aims to institutionalise life skills education by integrating it directly into the school curriculum through structured learning resources, teacher capacity building, and ongoing digital support via TheTeacherApp. The program will help students develop essential 21st-century competencies, including critical thinking, communication, collaboration, decision-making, and emotional well-being—skills that are increasingly vital for navigating a rapidly changing world.

We were honoured by the presence of Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, Jammu & Kashmir; Shri Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Co-Chairman, Bharti Airtel Foundation; Shri Ram Niwas Sharma, IAS, Commissioner/Secretary, School Education Department, Jammu & Kashmir; Shri Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; Dr Naseem Javaid Chowdhary, Director, Directorate of School Education, Jammu; and Prof Sindhu Kapoor, Joint Director, SCERT (Central), J&K.

The launch builds upon Bharti Airtel Foundation’s sustained commitment to strengthening the education ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir since 2016 through its Quality Support Program (QSP). It also draws on the success of the Life Skills Development through House System initiative launched in 2022 in collaboration with the Directorate of School Education, Jammu. The learnings from that initiative have helped shape this curriculum-integrated approach, aligned with the vision of NEP 2020.

Together, this initiative reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that education goes beyond academics and equips students with the skills needed to thrive as confident, responsible, and future-ready citizens.