Imagine, Invent, Inspire: A Science Festival in Thatta
Extracurricular activities are generally an
unheard of concept in government schools in rural Sindh. One locality in
the District of Thatta, a rural and highly undeveloped district, stands
in sharp contrast. On January 28th 2014, a Science Festival was
organised at the Government Boys Primary School Darro, a STEP school, by
the STEP District Field Office and one of STEP’s mentor teachers.
Over
1,500 students, 200 teachers, and 450 community members and parents
attended the Festival, the largest ever organised in the district.
Students work tougher and set up various stalls in the Science Festival,
presenting learning models and demonstrations that focused on basic
science concepts and topics such as the flow of energy, forces, light,
matter, the solar system, and the various systems of the human body. The
exhibitions at the Festival encompassed nearly all the major topics of
science that students learn about at the primary level.
The Director Education, Hyderabad Division
visited the Festival and was so inspired that he ordered the Education
Department of District Thatta to organise such a Science Festival again
at another school the following week. The Festival strengthened the
commitment of students and teachers towards quality teaching and
learning.
After visiting the Festival, the parents of
several children who were not attending school were also inspired and
motivated to seek admission for their children. The community was
particularly appreciative towards STEP for organising the event,
requesting that STEP organise additional events in other subject areas
to encourage learning and to provoke children’s curiosity in other
fields.