Ampati, August 17: A one-day workshop-cum-awareness programme for urban school teachers was organized by State Council of Science, Technology & Environment (SCST&E), Meghalaya in collaboration with District Planning Office, South West Garo Hills at DRDA Conference Hall, Ampati in preparation for the National Children’s Science Congress, 2017.
Altogether 26 school teachers, mostly science teachers from Ampati and surrounding areas participated in the programme. Giving a brief inspirational talk to the teachers during the inaugural session, Deputy Commissioner Cyril V.D. Diengdoh said that this workshop would enable the teachers to equip themselves better to teach science and urged upon the teachers to focus on activity-based learning to make science more interesting.
He also said that teachers need to challenge themselves to encourage and generate confidence in the children to have interest in science. “Whatever stream they study, the children should be inculcated certain amount of interest for science and environment. Even in this age of smart technology children should be taught not to lose connect with Mother Nature”, he added.
In her introductory address, Addl. Deputy Commissioner & District Planning Officer, Ampati, H.D.B. Sangma said that National Children’s Science Congress gives children in the age group of 10 – 17 years a unique opportunity to discover and recognize scientific temperament in themselves and enable them to identify real life issues and find simple solutions in a scientific approach, where teachers play the role of mentor and guide to inspire and motivate the students in their respective schools.
The District Coordinator, NCSC, Sume G.B.Sangma conducted the workshop as the main resource person. While highlighting on the objectives, parameters and focal theme of the NCSC for 2016-2017 “Science, Technology & Innovation for Sustainable Development”, she acknowledged the fact that rural students invariably have not been able to qualify beyond the district levels.
However, she informed that from this year the students from block levels would also get the opportunity to participate in the State and National levels and gave use tips and suggestion to the teachers as to how they should motivate and prepare their students to come up with innovative projects for the same.
The resource person also discussed and interacted with the teachers on the need to change the way they approach children in the classroom, the need to teach in a more innovative ways and to generate a questioning mind among the students so they can come up with their own new and innovative ideas and get out of superstitious beliefs that are so rampant in our country, she said. EAC, Ampati, W.R.G. Momin and Research Assistant Philip Koch also spoke on the occasion.
