DC Bandipora inaugurates 6-Day Psychology-Driven STEM Training Programme

Early Times Report BANDIPORA, Sept 7: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, on Monday inaugurated a 6-day Psychology-Driven STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Training Workshop for government school teachers and students at Nadim Memorial Boys Higher Secondary School (NMBHSS), Kaloosa. The workshop is organized under the Jammu & Kashmir Science Technology & Innovation Council (JKST&IC) sponsored project titled "Psychology Driven STEM Learning to build scientific temper in the border villages of Kashmir." Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized the pivotal role of experiential, student-centric pedagogy in demystifying science and technology education. She highlighted that integrating psychology-driven interventions into STEM disciplines will ignite curiosity, enhance problem-solving capabilities, and nurture an enduring scientific temperament among students, particularly in border districts. She stressed that children from all age groups, including those outside the formal school system, should be encouraged to visit and utilize these labs to explore, experiment and develop scientific curiosity. On the occasion, the Chief Education Officer Bandipora, Rafeeq Ahmad Mir, delivered the presidential address, commending the collaborative effort and underscoring the department's commitment to transforming classrooms into centers of innovation, creativity, and practical learning through active utilization of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs). During the programme, Dr. Eshrat Ara, Principal Investigator (Assistant Professor, GCW M.A. Road, Srinagar), outlined the scope and objectives of the 6-day training model. Dr. Dinesh Kumar Rajendran, Co-Principal Investigator (Assistant Professor, NIT Srinagar), briefed the gathering on the project's technical framework and experiential learning modules. Speaking on the occasion, Nodal Officer, ATL Lab Kashmir, Muneer Wani, spoke on maximizing the potential of tinkering laboratories across schools. The event witnessed active participation from resource persons, educators, and students from various institutions across the district.