Learning vans to aid govt school students

By: Kritika Tiwary
RANCHI: The district education officials have teamed up with a non-profit organisation to provide hands-on experimental knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at government middle schools in Kanke and Namkum blocks.
Officials of the Care India Foundation said two vans, equipped with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) equipment, have been rolled out for 34 government schools across Kanke and Namkum blocks in Ranchi.
“The project is aimed at encouraging the students to inculcate scientific and experimental bent of mind by imparting practical lessons to them. The mobile vans are stocked with interactive and engaging books, digital devices, mathematical manipulatives, science lab equipment, puzzles and posters,” Akash Kumar, the district superintendent of education, told TOI.
Vandana Mishra, the regional head of Care India Foundation, said the lab aligns with the holistic learning which has been envisioned under the Nation Education Policy (NEP).
“It is aimed at fostering higher order skills like logical thinking, creativity and social responsibility,” she claimed.
The project, she said, was aimed at students above 11 years of age, with a special focus on girl students from weaker sections.
The project, first rolled out in 2019, is underway in 248 government schools across Bihar, Punjab,Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, the Foundation’s officials here claimed.