AMPATI: A one-day workshop-cum-awareness programme
for urban school teachers was organized on Thursday 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.
Altogether 26 school teachers, mostly science teachers from Ampati and
surrounding areas participated in the programme,according to an official communique.
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. ourc
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.
