Promote experiential learning in line with NEP 2020: Alok

Principal Secretary Alok Kumar during inauguration of Aaghaz Lab at Girls High School Gandhi Nagar Jammu on Monday.
Principal Secretary Alok Kumar during inauguration of Aaghaz Lab at Girls High School Gandhi Nagar Jammu on Monday.

*Inaugurates first ever Astro Physics Lab at GHS Gandhi Nagar

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 26: To inculcate scientific temper among the students, Samagra Shiksha under the aegis of School Education Department, today launched a model lab- Astro Physics namely AAGHAAZ, an indigenous integrated initiative for achieving the goals under quality as envisaged in NEP 2020.
Principal Secretary Education, Alok Kumar inaugurated the first of its kind Astro Physics-AAGHAAZ Lab at Girls High School Gandhinagar and also hand first hand information regarding the complete project.
Project Director Samagra Shiksha, Deep Raj, Director School Education Jammu, Ashok Sharma, Deputy Director, Bilal Rashid, Chief Education Officer Suraj Rathore, Field Advisor Jagdeep Padha, Coordinator, Samagra Shiksha, Ajeet Sharma, senior officers of Education Department along with technical experts were present at the occasion.
Also, sessions from academicians, scientists and subject matter experts from different Higher Educational institutions and IIT Kanpur shall be arranged for capacity building of teachers besides conducting various activities in this regard, he said.
Principal Secretary, Alok Kumar, while interacting with the media, said that scientific temper is an attitude of logical thinking and it explores the actual potential of a child. Brainstorming sessions for children and teachers is the need of hour, which shall lead to best experiential learning at all levels, as envisaged in the NEP 2020 and shall further reduce the learning gaps, he maintained.
Alok Kumar also informed that, the intent of setting up of these kinds of labs, where children can visualize the Universe with naked eyes, shall be a boon for the Society which shall improvise the School education system.
He further informed that, 10 Virtual reality Labs, 100 Science Centres shall be established in the current year in various schools, across the UT, which shall give boost to the Scientific attitude of students and teachers.
Principal Secretary also instructed the functionaries of Education Department, to immediately arrange trainings for 376 Science/Physics Teachers, so that the students may get benefit from these labs. Roster shall be prepared for visit of students of nearby Schools for which transportation cost shall be borne by the Directorate of Samagra Shiksha, he asserted.
Deep Raj, elaborated that, the Project AAGHAAZ has been taken up by the School Education Department in collaboration with IFACET, IIT Kanpur, under which 376 labs shall be established across J&K with financial implication @ Rs. 4.00 Lakh each. Two such Labs in each Education Zone shall be established.