Canva and NCERT roll out self-paced certification courses for teachers

In a major push to enhance digital literacy and creative teaching in Indian classrooms, Canva has partnered with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to launch a nationwide teacher training initiative.

The collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), introduces three self-paced, free certification programs designed to promote visual learning, AI fluency, and design thinking among educators.

These courses will be accessible through DIKSHA, the Ministry of Education’s official digital learning platform, and will be offered in multiple Indian languages to ensure wide reach.

The initiative aligns with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and is expected to benefit lakhs of teachers across the country by equipping them with modern tools and techniques to foster creative, student-centric classrooms.

Canva will provide free access to its education platform, which features tools for developing lesson plans, infographics, presentations, and other collaborative materials.

As part of the training, teachers will also learn to use AI-powered tools like Dream Lab, which assist in visualizing complex concepts and enhancing lesson delivery.

The program is designed not only to boost student engagement and creativity but also to help teachers reduce workload by simplifying content creation.

In addition to the DIKSHA platform, the certification content will be broadcast via PM eVidya DTH TV channels, expanding accessibility for educators in remote or low-connectivity areas.

Participants who complete the program will receive a joint certificate from NCERT and Canva, adding to their professional credentials.

Speaking about the collaboration, Jason Wilmot, Head of Education at Canva, said, “We believe every teacher deserves access to tools that make learning more engaging, inclusive, and creative. This partnership with NCERT is a powerful step toward equipping educators with practical digital skills that save time and spark imagination in every classroom.”

Chandrika Deb, Canva’s Country Manager for India, said, “This partnership brings a shared vision to life, one that empowers every teacher in India with access to easy-to-use, powerful digital design tools.”

“By delivering this program free of cost, in multiple languages, and through a trusted national platform like NCERT, we are not only advancing digital fluency and creative confidence in classrooms across the country, but also deepening Canva’s long-term commitment to India,” Deb added.

Canva Education now offers teachers unlimited access to a vast library of resources, including over 500 integrated educational apps covering subjects across all grade levels. From interactive learning games to real-time translation tools, the platform supports holistic teaching practices.

Since 2024, over 25 million students and educators have joined Canva Education, contributing to its global community of more than 100 million users. With over 1 billion classroom designs created worldwide, the platform continues to play a significant role in shaping digital-first education.

This latest move reinforces Canva’s broader mission of democratizing creativity and design, enabling Indian teachers to lead a new generation of learners into a more collaborative, innovative future.