Ampareen worried over teaching lapse in Science, Maths

SHILLONG, Dec 14: Meghalaya Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said today that the teaching of Science and Mathematics in Meghalaya had not been encouraging, as a result of which students were reluctant to take up these subjects for study. Inaugurating the DST-INSPIRE Programme Winter Camp held at Multi-use Convention Hall, NEHU today, she expressed the hope that the programmes such as the DST-INSPIRE would go a long way in creating the right ambience for teaching and learning these two subjects every educated person ought to know in today’s world. She said, the training programme was basically meant to attract talent to the study of science at an early stage, and help to build the required critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding the Science and Technology systems.

She added that students are not encouraged in schools to reason out for their career. “Depending only in the State quota for studies abroad is not healthy for the students. Students should also try to get through other competitive exams,” said Lyngdoh.

Lyngdoh said that the camp would be the best way to identify students who were interested in the field of Science and Mathematics.

In his brief introductory address, Adviser and Director of DST, Government of India KK Dwivedi said, “Presently, there are only about 150 scientists in the country, while other countries have 50 times more scientists than our country.” He added that there are only 750-1,000 students with young mind competing in the Science streams. “This will not bring much change to the country,” said Dwivedi.

He informed that INSPIRE programme will cover about 70,000 students in the country every year. He said that Central Government has sanctioned about Rs 2,000 crore for the INSPIRE programme.

It may be mentioned that this innovative programmes was developed by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India called Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Winter camp. The camp started today with an inaugural function at North Eastern Hills University (NEHU) campus. It will conclude on December 21. THE SENTINEL