Guwahati: The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Samagra Shiksha Assam (SSA), a programme under the Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan of the ministry of education, to develop scientific temper among the students of Assam and strengthen their ability to handle challenging environment.
The MoU was signed between the dean, research and development, IITG Vimal Katiyar and executive director of SSA Sanjoy Dutta.
Parameswar K. Iyer, officiating director, IITG, said: “IITG is glad to contribute in the area focusing on the development of scientific temper among school students. Under the Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan, the institute is collaborating with other higher education institutes of the state for mentoring higher secondary schools across Assam.”
Under this collaboration, IITG will support SSA to conduct various state level activities in a hybrid mode in state-run schools in Assam for secondary students.
These include state level quiz competitions, state level science and math olympiads, mentoring 330 schools across Assam, formation of science and math clubs in 330 schools across the state, and state level children’s science exhibition.
For the same, IITG will prepare a roadmap and an activity calendar for the implementation of tinkering labs across all districts in the state of Assam.
These will include initiating online registration of all nominated students and teachers, hosting participants during children’s science congress, providing logistical and technical support to the participating schools, developing online portal for monitoring and progress showcase of all Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan initiatives in the state, and network with other higher education institutes for mentoring support.
IITG has already started working on the initiative. On the occasion of National Science Day on February 28, 2023, the institute launched the qualifying round of the quiz competition that took place in online mode and witnessed participation from around 5,000 students from 33 districts of Assam.
The topics of the quiz included science and technology, history, geography, culture, sports, business and current affairs.
Toppers of each district will be called for the final leg of the competition in the first week of March 2023.
IITG has collaborated with the Assam government for multiple projects to augment holistic development of the region.
The recent initiative of SSA and IITG under the purview of Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan will open new avenues for higher secondary education in the state.