Sikkim Mail

Gangtok, September 8:

Two days workshop cum review meeting for ‘Project DNA Club’ was organized at Science Centre Marchak in Sikkim on Thursday. The session was chaired by the Minister for Science Technology and Climate Change Department, Bhim Dhungel along with Principal Secretary Science Technology and Climate Change Ravindra Telang and Additional Director D T Bhutia.

The two days workshop was attended by 35 project DNA club member schools and the workshop was organized by Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology with support from Department of Biotechnology, government of India.

Department of Biotechnology, Government of India had urged the state to forward projects for fulfilling the necessary requirements of schools. It is then that the department proposed a project under which schools will get Rs. 40, 000 to utilize for the upliftment of schools and introduce various activities for overall development of children.

The project is for three years but with this reviewing meeting the success rate of project will be evaluated by the additional director and based on the report the decision for its continuation will be taken. Minister Bhim Dhungel distributed various equipments to the 35 participating schools, which included a almirah, a fridge, computers with laser printers, microscopes, dissection box and binoculars.

“Academic programmes have less attendance as compared to cultural programmes by children that are organized in schools and this is because of the mindset of the people of the state which has to be reformed gradually,” said Bhim Dhungel. But now it is the duty of the teachers to make the children work diligently, put in more efforts and make them do research for more knowledge making the science subject more interesting he added.

Minister also informed the gathering of the recent village to village tour of the Chief Minister, where he received many complaints from school children regarding computers and other appliances either not working or of not having teachers to teach and hoped that with this new set of computers and gadgets being given to the schools the teachers will be able to utilize them properly and further encourage the children to make use of them too.

The two day workshop will witness presentation of reports by coordinators of 35 schools from all the four districts. The reports are in the form of power point presentations. It was also informed by D T Bhutia that the project involves only 60 minutes from the school to indulge in related activities.

School has to take full advantage of these 60 minutes to generate awareness on biodiversity through it. The additional director also informed that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the school and whatever rules have been mentioned there have to be applied. Mr. Bhutia further added that whatever has been envisaged in MoU has to be fulfilled. The basic objective of Project DNA club is to appreciate biodiversity and help generate interest in bio diversity and bio technology in our students. It was a proud moment additional director expressed when in Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research Sikkim bagged the first and Second Prize in the regional category.

The first Prize went to Suman Subba from Singhik Government School and Ms. Simran Pradhan from PNGSS respectively. While Principal Secretary Mr. Telang highlighted the importance of simplifying science in order to inculcate interest in the subject. Mr. Telang stated that science and technology in the state needs special attention as students need to instill interest in the same. The educationists should make an endeavor to demystify science and also stressed on the fact that scientists are also quite responsible in creating apprehensions for Science in the minds of
students. Only if teachers take it upon themselves to simplify the theories,
principles and relate them with everyday life, will the students develop
curiosity.

Furthermore more Mr. Telang urged the DNA club members to demonstrate more and tell them the importance of asking the right type of questions.
Inquisitiveness has to be aroused amongst the students and then it will be much simpler. Learn by doing and no overloading will definitely help make the students appreciate the subject. The department is willing to support and sponsor all facilities to schools and teachers, and in spite of the time constraint they should use it effectively, added Mr. Telang.

 

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