Mysuru: Thrilled by the response to its ‘mini science centres’, which is aimed at encouraging rural students in
government schools to pursue science education, an NGO is planning to increase the number of centres exponentially over the next five years. There are 21 centres functioning at the moment and the NGO plans to set up more than 500 centres across the country in the next five years.
Mysuru-based Ace Education Trust, an implementing agency of CSR initiatives, had established the centres with the intention of promoting study in pure science. Through the free science centres, the trust also improved basic infrastructure in many government schools by constructing additional classrooms, instaling drinking water facilities and rest rooms among others.
Founded by business entrepreneur Raju Deshani in 2010, the trust initially focused on addressing problems in primary education like supply of notebooks and uniforms. However, after the trust set up the
mini science centres, students’ performance in science improved tremendously. Students especially in Tandavapura Government School also even try to communicate in English.
“The idea behind the science centres was to encourage students to become like APJ Abdul Kalam,” Deshani told TOI. “The centres are basically set up in a separate room and have about 50 to 60 science models. These make learning more interesting.”
The trust now plans to set up 500 mini science centres across the country, including 200 in rural Karnataka and 100 across Mysuru district. The trust currently has such science centres at rural government primary schools like KS Hundi, Hulimavu, Bokkahalii, Thandavapura, Srirmapura-Nanjangud Town, Kanakadas School Nanjangud, Hadinaru and Koorgalli. The trust is associated with some of corporates such as United Breweries Limited and implements their CSR initiatives.
“We also conduct teacher training programmes in mathematics, science, English and information technology, Deshani said. “Through these centres we have also improved infrastructure in many schools, provided better class room facilities, good ambience for students and have installed sanitary pad burning machines. The thrust is on encouraging students to become scientist.”
- R Uday Kumar
