Science is basically a window of our society: Chandra
Port Blair, Jan. 16: “Science is basically a window of our society, our education system and the temperament that we exhibit. The scientific fervor once instilled in the minds of children becomes a real harbinger of the progress of the Nation and the Society”, said the Chief Secretary, A&N Islands, Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS, addressing the gathering as the chief guest of the inaugural ceremony of the State Level Science & Mathematics exhibition ‘Gyanodaya-2022-23’ organized by the Education Department, A&N Administration in collaboration with Samagra Shiksha, UT Mission Authority, A&N Islands and Department of Education in Science & Mathematics, New Delhi in the auditorium of Govt. Girls Sr. Sec. School here this morning. The inaugural session was attended among others by the Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Education/Sports), A&N Administration, Shri Nikhil Kumar, IAS, Secretary (Education), Ms Veditha Reddy, IAS, Director (Education), Shri Aditya Kumar Jha, officials from Education Department, students, teachers and parents.
Lauding the students for the spectacular display of their exhibits/projects, he said, each student who has displayed their projects deserves a huge appreciation and applause. “Your work is no less or inferior to anybody else”, the Chief Secretary told the students and encouraged them to continue learning and develop scientific temperament. He also complimented the teachers and parents for the support and guidance rendered to the students in coming up with such innovative ideas and solutions for day to day challenges through their projects and models, making it envision worthy.
Mentioning that the philosophy of Science is extremely important, the Chief Secretary said, it was the American Historian and Philosopher of Science, Thomas Kuhn’s scientific philosophies that changed the entire gamut of Science, thereby enabling people to differentiate between Science and pseudo-science. He said, the 18th century Industrial revolution was based on scientific revolution with one single principle i.e. to make life simpler where there is a challenge or difficulties in human existence. Science is based on the fundamentals of consistency, accuracy, truthfulness, simple and it is replicable, the Chief Secretary said. He urged the teachers to continue to instill in children the wonders of Science and how it can play a crucial role in mitigating the challenges of life.
Congratulating the Education Department led by the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Secretary (Education) and Director Education for the tremendous work in the betterment of education in Isles, the Chief Secretary said, the students-teacher ratio in A&N Islands is one of the best in the country with 10.7 students to 1 teacher, 17 Atal Tinkering Labs are functioning in the Islands and 67 schools have Integrated Science Labs and 22 Sr. Secondary Schools are having Science Streams with well-equipped separate labs for Physic, Chemistry , Biology and Maths. He remarked that it is a matter of great pride that the Island territory with its geographical distance from mainland has been able to produce such competent students who are at par with mainland students who have access to the best institutions and coaching facilities. He said, every year, many students from Isles are able to get into premier Medical and Engineering Colleges in mainland, which is not a mean achievement and this kind of exhibition is a stepping stone to further showcase their talents and compete with the students in mainland.
The Chief Secretary along with the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Secretary (Education) and Director (Education) also released the Gyanodaya Souvenir on the occasion. Earlier, the Chief Secretary went round the exhibits and evinced keen interest in the models on display by the students. He interacted and patiently listened to their explanation about the themes and working of their models and projects.
Speaking on the occasion, the Commissioner-cum- Secretary, Shri Nikhil Kumar lauded the students for their wonderful exhibits. He appreciated the innovative models displayed by the students and remarked that some of it can be developed into economically viable projects, which can be replicated in real life including educational institutions. He complimented the teachers for their efforts in making this exhibition a scientific blend of minds. He stated that modern civilization is scientifically driven and the modern comforts are based on science. Science empowers, emancipate and enlightens us in many ways, he remarked. Urging students to continue with the scientific temperament and quest for innovation, he called upon them to share such scientific knowledge and learning with the community and society at large and also to encourage the masses to incorporate scientific excellence in their day to day activities and help make life easier, smarter and better.
Welcoming the gathering, the Secretary (Education), Ms Veditha Reddy thanked the Chief Secretary for his constant support, guidance & motivation and under whose leadership ‘Education’ always takes the prime focus. She said, ‘Gyanodaya’ is a State Level Science & Mathematics exhibition which is held every year. However, due to COVID Pandemic, it could not be held since the last three years. She informed that the Block level and Zonal Level exhibitions were conducted in the month of October and November in which various Schools participated in the competition including Private Schools, out of which, 115 students including 22 students from Private Schools were selected to represent and showcase their exhibits today. The best selected projects will represent A&N Islands at the National Level Exhibition to be held in New Delhi, she said. The Secretary further remarked that this exhibition not only gives students the platform for their scientific temperament but also inculcates the power of processing how Science can be utilized in day to day life. She informed that in A&N Islands, there are 22 Senior Secondary Schools having Science Stream in which about 1100 to 1200 students are pursuing their studies in Science stream. To develop scientific temperament among students, 10 Atal Tinkering Labs in Govt. Schools and 7 in Private Schools are functioning in the Islands, she said.
More than 100 exhibits were on display at the exhibition by the students from nine educational zones from Diglipur to Campbell Bay. Earlier, students from Govt. Model SSS and Govt. Boys SSS presented a welcome song. The Director, Education, Shri Aditya Kumar Jha proposed the vote of thanks. The inaugural programme concluded with a silent National Anthem presented by the Special Children.
Meanwhile, the closing ceremony of the State Level Exhibition – ‘Gyanodaya’ 2022-23 was held today in which the Secretary (Education), Ms. Veditha Reddy, IAS was the chief guest. In her brief address, the Secretary (Education) said that such exhibitions help in developing creativity & scientific temperament among students. She also showered praise for the teachers, students and parents for their hard work in preparing the exhibits and models.
The Secretary had a special mention for the students of schools of Nicobar zone for creating innovative & extraordinary models. She also appreciated the students of North & Middle Andaman zones for their participation, displaying good science models and explaining it efficiently.
Mentioning that some of the models created by the students for environment protection, projects of mathematics and biology and paintings were innovative, the Secretary said these models can be replicated at School level for the benefit of students and the residents of the area. She also handed over trophies to the students whose models were adjudged first, second and third respectively. The Director Education, Shri Aditya Kumar Jha and Deputy Directors also handed over trophies to the winner students. The Rolling Trophy of the Gyanodaya- 2022-23 was bagged by South Andaman Zone. The function concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Deputy Director Education (Science), Smt. Archana Singh.