Two IAS officers got together to start a laudable initiative in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. They started the Mobile Science Laboratory Project for 16 Ashram schools for tribal students. In this project, a mobile science laboratory will move from one school to another so that the students can acquire practical knowledge on science.

The officers have already started a fellowship programme for recruitment of teachers for this mobile science laboratory. Young aspirants who want to work with IAS officers and are in the education sector can apply. Till now, more than 100 applications have come.

The two officers are 2019-batch IAS officer Shubham Gupta who is Asssitant Collector, Etapalli and Project Officer, ITDP, Bhamragad in Gadchiroli district, and 2019-batch IAS officer Mainak Ghosh who is Assistant Collector and Project officer, ITDP, Gadchiroli.

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Indian Masterminds interacted with Mr. Shubham Gupta to get more details about the project which will be operational from 15 December.

THE PROJECT

Formal conventional education has thus far not had the intended impact on the learning and development outcomes of students in the Ashram schools of Gadchiroli. Students often find it difficult to relate to and comprehend textual scientific concepts. A learning approach that focuses on the practical applications of science through experiments and demonstrations, allowing children to engage more meaningfully with science, might prove to be more impactful. Hence, two IAS officers of the district, Shubham Gupta and Mainak Ghosh, thought of the mobile laboratory project.

The project is currently designed to operate in the Dhanora, Etapalli and Bhamragad blocks of Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra. These blocks are the worst hit by student dropouts. The mobile science laboratory will visit 16 Ashram schools on a predesignated route. Those enrolled in the fellowship programme will spend nearly a month in each Ashram school over the course of a year, teaching and demonstrating experiments.

The three blocks where the project has been started are the most Naxal affected and are very backward. The 16 Ashram schools here are residential schools which impart education up to the secondary level to children belonging to Scheduled Tribes (STs). The dropout rate in these schools is very high. After doing a survey in these 16 schools, the officers found out that children do not have even the basic knowledge of science. And because of language problem, most students who attend class do not understand the scientific terms and their meanings. Hence, it was decided to teach science to them practicals so that they can grasp easily.

Mr. Gupta said, “After all, language is a medium to express oneself. So if something is being taught practically, then they will easily understand and learn the language, too. That is why, this project was started with the dual purpose – that children should have knowledge of science and also learn language.”

MOBILE SCIENCE LABORATORY VAN

Because labs are expensive, the officers wanted to start their project with reduced cost. “So we thought of making a mobile science laboratory which will move from place to place. This will cover all 16 schools. And children will learn science and a little bit about astronomy and climate change also,” Mr. Gupta said.

The Mobile Science Laboratory is an imaginatively designed mini-van which accommodates science lab equipment and apparatus like a telescope, resistors, test-tubes, etc., and a television to air science videos and documentaries. The MSL along with two teaching fellows will visit Ashram schools and teach students scientific concepts by way of demonstrating experiments (learning by seeing), showing educational videos, and playing interesting games, while also giving students the chance to perform experiments themselves and allowing them to engage deeply with the material. The topics covered include concepts and experiments from physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, climate change and ecology.

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME

After work commenced on the project, the question arose who will teach the children and move around in the Mobile Science Laboratory van. “If we appoint any regular teacher for this, then, chances of success of this project will decrease as these teachers already have lots to do in the schools. So, we decided to organise a fellowship. We are recruiting some young students who want to work with IAS officersand are interested in the field of education. We are proposing one year fellowship and will continue as per need and possibilities,” Mr. Gupta said.

‘The Teach Climate & Science Fellowship’ is a 12-months opportunity for fellows to work as full time teachers in the Ashram schools of Gadchiroli. Fellows will travel with the van and stay overnight at the Ashram schools, allowing them to work closely with the students over the course of a year.