SHILLONG, April 24: A total of 171 students of Pine Mount School benefitted from a 20-hour pilot training programme, the curtain on which came down on Wednesday here.
According to a statement, the programme was organised by the Education department and Samagra Shiksha — State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya (SEMAM) under SPARK (School Programmes in Articulation, Resilience and Kindness), and was implemented by AVENUES, Shillong.
During the programme on Wednesday, the 171 participants were also felicitated with certificates.
“In a bid to impart core soft skills that have emerged as critical needs for the youth of the state, the foundational training under SPARK helps instil career and life readiness through sessions that nurture self-worth and confidence, communication skills, critical thinking through STEM-based activities and emotional wellbeing,” the statement said.
The certification programme was also participated by State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, Swapnil Tembe, who, during his interaction with the students, spoke about the vision behind SPARK and stressed the need to develop confidence.
“You have different dreams and goals. But no matter what career you choose — medical, teaching, engineering, administration or entrepreneurship — you need to first have the confidence to do it. It will not happen overnight, but it is good to see you have started to speak up, ask questions and work on your communication skills,” he said.
Maintaining that resilience is a crucial skill to succeed in life, he continued, “We may not always succeed in the first attempt, and it is important to accept failure and not give up.”
Meanwhile, during Tembe’s classroom interactions with the students, some shared their experiences from the programme and a few groups displayed their presentations on social issues and STEM projects that touched upon the Resilience and Kindness components of the programme.
DaphibawanriL Synrem, a class 8 student, spoke of her experience with SPARK. She said, “I always thought I was confident. But through SPARK, I realised it is more than just being comfortable around your friends. I am now braver to speak with teachers or to ask them questions in class. So, SPARK has really helped me build my confidence and taught me how to communicate more effectively. Our trainers also taught us about the importance of values and those sessions really stuck with me because I believe that if you’re just smart and you get good grades, but if you don’t have or practice any values, there’s really no point.”
Similarly, Adonasherisa R Phawa, another student of class 8, revealed how her trainers helped her on the communication front.
“My trainers have helped me communicate better with my classmates, and I am now able to express myself to them. I feel closer to them, even the ones who I’ve not always been close with. We’ve become better friends and we’ve learned how to work together as a group. SPARK has been very different from our regular classes because some of my classmates who were shy and distant from the rest of us are now able to speak up and be a bit more confident. They are able to express their feelings and ask questions when they are asked,” Phawa said.
It is pertinent to note that the presentations were an effort to “conduct on-the-spot assessments and gauge articulation and public speaking skills ranging from personal and team introductions to receiving questions from audiences, project walk-throughs, body language, audience connect and stage presence”.
Others who were part of the programme include Education department officials, members of Avenues Shillong, and school staff.