Teachers who dream of writing the school textbooks their students read now have a clear route in. NCERT has opened a six-month certificate programme that trains social science teachers and teacher educators to build textbooks and other curricular materials. Applications close on 13 September 2026, and interested candidates must send their details through a Google Form.
The course runs from September 2026 to February 2027. It carries the full title Developing of Social Science Textbooks and Other Curricular Materials, and it is run by the Department of Education in Social Sciences (DESS), NCERT, New Delhi.
What the NCERT Certificate Programme on Social Science Textbooks covers
NCERT develops national curriculum frameworks, model syllabi, textbooks and other materials as part of its mandate. Most people who write such materials pick up the skill on the job. This programme sets out to train potential social science curricular material developers in a structured way, and NCERT says it will help SCERTs, DIETs and even private publishers raise the quality of materials in India. The programme is part of the Government of India’s Skill Development initiative in school education.
The course is worth 20 credits, split across four courses that each carry equal weight:
| Course | Focus | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Course 1 | School Social Science Education: Building Perspectives | 5 |
| Course 2 | Epistemology and Social Sciences | 5 |
| Course 3 | Development of Curricular Resources and Pedagogic Concerns | 5 |
| Course 4 | Learning and Assessment in Social Sciences | 5 |
Three phases, online and face-to-face
The programme mixes online and offline modes across three phases:
- Phase 1: September/October 2026 (online)
- Phase 2: November/December 2026 (face-to-face)
- Phase 3: January/February 2027 (online)
During the course, participants submit assignments such as essays, summaries, textbook analyses, draft chapters, worksheets, model question papers and posters, and they carry out classroom research in schools. Certification rests on portfolio assessment, which covers participation, assignments, end-of-course examinations and presentations. Faculty from NCERT teach the modules and act as mentors, and textbook writers from States who have worked with NCERT deliver special lectures.
Who can apply
The course is meant only for working social science teachers and teacher educators involved in curriculum development at district, state or national level. Eligibility conditions:
- Candidates should have studied Social Sciences at Graduate or Master’s level.
- Teachers in schools, colleges and universities teaching a social science course need a minimum of two years’ experience.
- Teacher educators in DIETs or SCERTs need a minimum of five years of teaching, research or development experience in Social Sciences.
How to apply
Interested teachers must share their details through the Google Form link: https://surl.li/zcogiq. NCERT will shortlist candidates on various criteria, and online interviews may be held if required. The Council will write to the institutions, DIETs or SCERTs of selected candidates for deputation to attend all three phases, including the face-to-face phase.
For questions, candidates can write to dess.training@ciet.nic.in. The last date to submit details is 13 September 2026.