GUWAHATI: In a bid to enhance the quality of education in the state, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati recently organised an education meet.
Titled “Transforming Education in School Meet”, one of the highlights of the event was the virtual inauguration of 69 Tinkering Labs, which had been sanctioned the previous year under the under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), by Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, who graced the occasion as the chief guest.
“IIT Guwahati as the big brother is handholding other educational institutes of the region for successful implementation of various Rashtriya Abhiskar Abhiyan (RAA) activities and Arohan scheme. Teachers and parents should encourage students to ask more questions and actively participate in the tinkering process,” he said.
In today’s education system, a Tinkering Lab serves as a space for children to experiment, learn, develop, and conceptualize various scientific ideas.
The event’s primary focus was to showcase innovative products developed by students from state-run schools participating in the Tinkering Lab programme, a vital initiative of Samagra Shiksha Assam.
Over 230 students from 10 government and 15 private schools across the state participated in this showcase. Additionally, the event shed light on the achievements of the Education Department in promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in the state while underscoring the significance of 21st century skills programmes in schools.
A STEM workshop held during the event allowed more than 230 students from various schools to create their own robots, enhancing their hands-on learning experiences. The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring professors from IIT Guwahati and other STEM experts engaging with school principals and teachers to discuss the need for and challenges in implementing STEM education in schools.
Prof. Parameswar K Iyer, Officiating Director, IIT Guwahati, expressed the institute’s commitment to making quality education accessible to all in Assam. He highlighted their partnership with the government and startups in the region, aiming to create a more inclusive and equitable education system for the people of the state.
Under this collaboration, IIT Guwahati has undertaken various initiatives, including residential teachers’ training programmes for over 500 school teachers. These programmes have revamped teaching pedagogy and introduced quality education at the school level, incorporating subjects like Electronics, Coding, Robotics, AI, and 3D Printing.
The institute has also organised quiz competitions, Maths and Science Olympiads, benefiting over 10,000 students in Assam. STEM clubs have been established in 330 government schools, fostering creative thinking and improving technical and scientific skills among students in line with the NEP 2020 policy.
In addition, research scholars and MTech students from IIT Guwahati conducted Science Meets and exhibitions in all 33 districts of Assam, promoting science and logic in daily life. These events encouraged students to question, innovate, construct experimental designs, and seek solutions through science and technology.
IIT Guwahati is also set to host meritorious students (Mentees) and their Guide teachers/Officers from 10 districts of Assam as part of the AROHAN scheme, a flagship program of the Assam Government. In the first phase of 2023, around 1200 students will visit the institute, interact with faculty, and explore institutional facilities.
