A small government-run primary school in Bulandshahr district proudly boasts of a state-of-the-art astronomy lab. Yes, the administration of this district of Uttar Pradesh is bent on developing scientific temper in children, right from the primary level. And the man who kick started the initiative is IAS officer of 2016 batch, Mr Abhishek Pandey, who is the Chief Development Officer (CDO) of Bulandshahr.
The walls of the astronomy lab are filled up with interesting scientific facts for the children to read and ponder. One such graffiti reads:
‘If we put a giant mirror at a distance of 10 light years from Earth and look into that mirror through a telescope, we can theoretically see 20 years back.’
INTRODUCING ASTRONOMY TO YOUNG MINDS
Talking to Indian Masterminds, Mr Panday said, “It is important to have knowledge of science from the primary level of schooling and, hence, we decided to set up astronomy labs in schools of six villages under the Secunderabad Dehat Gram Panchayat.”
One primary school from each village was selected after careful screening and evaluation. Preference was given to schools with ample space and bigger number of students. Funds from a composite grant for Gram Panchayat development were used for building the six astronomy labs. Plans are afoot to equip the labs further so that the children can watch all celestial events.
LOOKING AHEAD INTO THE FUTURE
Gradually, Project Astronomy Lab will be extended to include primary schools of 152 Nyay Panchayats. The Panchayati Raj department and the Basic Education department have already started the process of selecting one school each from the Nyay Panchayats.
The six primary schools where astronomy labs are already in operation are in Nayabans, Sukhlalpur, Gafurgarhi, Mukandgarhi, Madhavgarhi and Garhi Majra of Secunderabad Gram Pachayat. CDO Abhishek Panday said, “These six schools are probably the only primary schools in the country to have astronomy labs”.
