Innovation centres to foster scientific ideas among students: Minister V Sivankutty
State’s first Centre for Early Innovation by General Education Dept., KSUM and SSK launched at Thrippunithura GGHSS
Kochi / October 22, 2024
Kochi, Oct. 22: Innovation centres are going to be critical in schools as they will help foster scientific innovations among students, said Minister for General Education and Labour Shri V Sivankutty today.
Shri Sivankutty was speaking while launching the state’s first Centre for Early Innovation (Tinkering Lab), rolled out by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) in association with General Education Department and Samagra Shiksha Keralam (SSK), at Government Girls Higher Secondary School (GGHSS), Thrippunithura, here. The project comes under World Bank-funded Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) scheme.
Thrippunithura Municipality Chairperson Ms Rema Santhosh presided over the function.
Shri Sivankutty said in the first phase, 28 Tinkering Labs have been planned in schools across the state with two centres in each district and the first lab at Thrippunithura will kindle innovative ideas among school students.
The Minister exuded the confidence that around 70 such centres could be set up in schools during this academic year. Shri Sivankutty informed that it is a first-of-its-kind initiative where Tinkering Labs are being established in collaboration with a public sector entity.
“The innovation labs are part of the Chief Minister’s 100-day Action Programme. These labs will introduce innovative technologies and ideas to students of Class 7-12,” he added.
KSUM had organized a workshop for teachers to familiarize them with the equipment and software being made available through these Centres for Early Innovation. A science expo led by students was also conducted as part of the event.
Thrippunithura Municipality Vice Chairman Mr K K Pradeep Kumar
SSK Additional State Project Director Mr Shine Mon M K; KSUM Project Director Mr Karthik Parasuram; SSK District Project Coordinator Mr Binoy K Joseph; DIET Principal Mrs Deepa G S; Ernakulam DEO Ms Devika T; SSK District Programme Officers Mr Joseph Varghese, Mrs Deepa Devi, and Mrs Anupama E H; AEO Mrs Resmi K J and Principal Mrs Mini P B among others were also present.
The Centres for Early Innovation will augment Science, Technology, Arts, Engineering and Mathematics (STEAM) learning and help develop future skills of students by introducing them to digital fabrication tools such as 3D printing and Computer Numerical Control (CNC).
These centres will focus on making STEAM education more effective in schools and equip the next generation pf youth with digital skills required for future jobs.
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