By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 15: A three-day STEM Bootcamp, aimed at making Science and Mathematics engaging and practical, concluded at Bynther Secondary School, West Khasi Hills, as it left in the students a newfound excitement and confidence in the subjects once many feared.
According to a statement here, the bootcamp, conducted and funded by Avenues, saw as many as 118 students built projects ranging from simple circuits to a Hydro Overflow Controller, designed to automatically stop water pumps once tanks are full.
Sharing her journey, Ufinia Nongsiej, a Class 9 student, said, “On the first day, I learned about smart budgeting and simple interest, how to save and spend money. On Day 2, it was robotics, circuits and sensors, and today about irrigation systems.”
“By doing the activities and projects ourselves, we understood better than by just looking at pictures,” she added.
Similarly, Pasiangshida Kharjana, a Class 7 student, admitted she had expected boredom but found the sessions “fun and interesting”.
“When our teacher told us there would be a workshop on Maths and Science, I thought it would be boring. But when the sessions started, it was fun and interesting. Even students from other classes enjoyed it,” Kharjana said.
“For Ufinia and her classmates, the three-day STEM Bootcamp at Bynther Secondary School was unlike any lesson they had ever attended. The quiet classrooms of the rural school were suddenly filled with the glow of circuit boards, the whirr of motors, and the laughter of students discovering that Maths and Science could be both exciting and practical,” the statement said.
Teachers observed that even the quietest students showed unusual enthusiasm.
“I saw that students were very active and interested. Even the quiet ones, who are usually not so active, were very engaged,” said Class 8 teacher, Lakshimina Kurbah.
Meanwhile, school principal Aitimis Kharsyntiew acknowledged the deeper impact of the three-day programme. “Our students, especially from rural areas, face problems in these subjects, sometimes even a phobia. Through this programme, they have been encouraged to learn better and become curious about these subjects. It has inspired them to see Maths and Science as pathways to a better future,” Kharsyntiew said.
At the certification ceremony, Special Officer (Science Education), DSEL, Shillong, AD Synrem, praised the initiative.
“I was happy to hear that beyond Science and Mathematics, students were introduced to skills like smart budgeting and saving, which are equally important in life. From what I have seen, the children have not only learned knowledge but also gained confidence. What Avenues has done here is not just about knowledge—it is about preparing young people with the confidence and curiosity to move forward,” Synrem said.
Meanwhile, Avenues CEO Mark Laitflang Stone described the bootcamp as “the beginning of a new journey”.
“This is the first time we have brought a STEM-focussed training model like this to a school. We believe Science deserves to be brought to every corner of our state, and your school is where it starts,” he said.