Another important area where afterschool programmes are active in India is science education. There are several institutions focusing on popularizing science. Some like the Jana Vignana Vedika focus on using science to counter superstitions, some like Ekalavya focus on promoting activity-based science education, some others like the Bombay Natural History Society focus on a specific agenda (in this case nature camps, eco-clubs, etc. for conservation). There is a lot of ground to cover in this blog! One step at a time. To start with one of my favourites:
The Vikram A. Sarabhai Community Science Centre (or the VASCSC) located in Ahmedabad, India is an institution built (in the 1960s) by the visionary whose name it carries. Its campus offers several interactive science exhibits that children can fiddle with. There are well equipped physics, chemistry and biology labs. A small but resourceful science shop offers do-it-yourself science kits and puzzles for children as well as demonstration kits for teachers.
The VASCSC offers a range of programmes for children and teachers. These includes weekend clubs on science and math, summer workshops (science hobby workshops, math lab, computer workshops, etc.), teacher training programmes, etc. The centre also has several outreach activities.
The need for such institutions across the country is great. However, what we have are a handful scattered across India's gigantic landscape.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment