ABOUT US
The District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) is a nodal institution established to provide academic and resource support at the grassroots level for the successful implementation of programmes and strategies related to elementary and adult education. DIETs play a vital role in strengthening the quality of school education, particularly in achieving the goals of Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE) and promoting functional literacy under adult education initiatives.
Established with the objective of improving the quality of elementary education, DIETs serve as centres for teacher education, educational research, curriculum development, training, and innovation at the district level.
THE BEGINNING OF DIET
Prior to the adoption of the National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986, academic and resource support for elementary education was primarily provided by national and state-level institutions such as the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), and the State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERTs). In the field of adult education, support was extended by the Central Directorate of Adult Education and State Resource Centres.
At the district level, teacher education institutions were largely confined to pre-service teacher training and lacked adequate physical, human, and academic resources. Recognizing the need for a stronger support system closer to schools and communities, the NPE 1986 and its Programme of Action (PoA) envisaged the establishment of District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) as a third tier of educational support. DIETs were subsequently established across the country with financial assistance from the Government of India.
The fundamental approach of DIETs places the learner at the centre of the educational process, promoting joyful, innovative, and participatory learning experiences rather than rote-based instruction. This learner-centred philosophy extends to both school and adult education programmes.
ABOUT DIET SAIHA
DIET Saiha was initially established as a Mini DIET/District Resource Centre (DRC) in 2004. It was subsequently upgraded to a full-fledged District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) on 29 December 2012 by the Teacher Education Approval Board (TEAB) under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India.
The institute is presently located at Siahtla, near KVK Siaha, Mizoram. Since its establishment, DIET Saiha has been committed to enhancing the quality of elementary education through teacher education, capacity building, educational research, and academic support services within the district.
GOALS OF DIETs
The major goals of DIETs are to:
Provide leadership in innovative pre-service elementary teacher education.
Contribute to the development of quality learning and teaching materials for elementary education.
Promote innovations and best practices for improving the functioning of elementary schools.
Organize and conduct in-service training programmes for elementary school teachers.
Undertake field-based research and empirical studies to improve educational outcomes.
Train functionaries involved in non-formal and adult education programmes.
Provide academic and technical support to district authorities in planning and implementing programmes for the Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE).
Strengthen educational planning, monitoring, evaluation, and community participation at the district level.
Through these efforts, DIET Saiha continues to serve as a centre of excellence for teacher education and educational development in the district, contributing to the overall improvement of school education in Mizoram.
