To inculcate scientific temperament among students, the Government on Thursday proposed to set up ‘model science labs’ across the country, beginning with the North-East region. The labs would nurture spirit of inquisitiveness amongst students between 6-18 years for subjects like Mathematics and Science.
HRD Minister Smriti Irani said that the initiative would be launched through the Department of Science and Technology. “let us begin with North East by setting up one model lab for school children. Once we set up the model science labs in every district of the North-East, in conjunction with DST, we can go beyond and establish across the country,” Irani said addressing a gathering of students through video-conferencing during the launch the Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan programme (RAA) in the national Capital.
Former President APJ Abdul Kalam launched the programme in the presence of Science Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan MoS HRD Ram Shankar Katharia and MoS North Eastern Region and Department of Space Jitendra Singh.lauding the initiatives of IT giants such as Google and Intel in the mission, Irani said that phase II of the programme will be launched in January next year targetting the higher education sector. She also proposed a national innovation competition in January and patenting the innovation and said the ten best innovations will be scaled up.
The programme will be conducted through intervention of existing programmes such as Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (RMSA) programme and through schemes of higher education.