KARACHI
The first ever two-day Sindh Science Festival got underway at NED University in Karachi on Thursday with the massive participation of several hundred students from different districts of the province.
The students along with their teachers from different schools of Karachi and other districts of Sindh turned up at the venue to participate in the festival where they displayed and exhibited the unique science models which were keenly watched and praised by the visitors, who thronged the venue on the first day.
The Sindh Minister for Education and Literacy Department, Syed Sardar Ali Shah after formally inaugurating the festival speaking on the occasion highly lauded the efforts of the organizers and including Partab Shivani, the CEO Thar Education Alliance and his team members, representative of different organizations and the participating students and their teachers , who had arrived at the venue with the sole purpose to present their science models.”
We cannot go ahead without imparting modern science education and inculcating the habits of the experimenting the things around in our kids” he added and said that together with quality education the should be given the access to the modern scientific equipment at their respective schools to keep abreast with the changing world, which he said was going fast due to modern inventions and discoveries.
He made it clear that STEM education was key to success and to keep abreast with the changing world and urged the students to get more interested in such subjects. He said that they were trying to introduce the process of providing the license system among the teachers of the province after giving them proper training to them.
“I want teachers of the province to be expected for their sacred profession so that they could impart the quality education among the students” he added.
Sardar Shah said that it were Sindhis who were pioneers of the first great invention of the universe and they had first invented the wheel and thus taught the people to move from one place to another. He said that the subcontinent was making strides in inventions and building civilized human settlements. at the time western world was still in darkness
Mr Shah said that such events would go a long way in creating the competitiveness and interest for STEM education among the students of the province, especially from the backward and remote districts, who had never been given the opportunities to showcase their talent at the proper forum. He said that officials of the alliance after successfully organizing the wonderful events in Thar showed their willingness to organize the festival in Karachi and he happily welcomed the decision and assured Mr Shivani and his team members to go ahead with such a noble cause to provide students with a unique opportunity to showcase their talent in a big city like Karachi.
“Such positive steps will help us all to formulate the plans to promote such more activities at least at the district level’ he added and said that his department had already decided to establish two science museums in Karachi and in Larkana and science laboratories in schools and colleges across the province. Sardar Shah said that a number of the government schools were running without the science labs and the Sindh government would soon establish the labs in the schools across the province to cater to the demands of the students. “ I am trying my best to focus on the little but important things in education sector including on co-curricular activities besides advocating for the curriculum in regional languages ,’’ he added and said that his sincere efforts for the improvement and the betterment of the education system would soon start bearing fruit for the students seeking their education in government-run schools across the province. He said that he believed in quality of the education rather than quantity and said that teachers recruited during past eras were a great liability to the department. and terribly lacked the information about science and the modern studies being carried out to further promote science and the related subjects.
Mr Shah said that with the establishment of Science Museums in Karachi and Larkana in the first phase towards their journey to educate students about the importance of science, mathematics and other related subjects.
“We must not ;limit ourselves to our great past and rich civilization and keep teaching pupils about our past culture and customs but now we have to focus all our energies on the such subjects which could enable students to compete at the national and then at the international level “he added.
Mr Shah said that it was the credit of Thari students to set a trend to enthusiastically participate in such activities by making wonderful science models. and urged the participants of the event to organize science festivals at the district level across the province. He said that he and officials of his department would extend all possible assistance in healthy activities.
Mr Shah also visited the stalls set up by the students from various schools of different districts of the province and expressed keen interest in the performances of the students and praised their efforts and enthusiasm in displaying their objects.
Mr. Mosharraf Zaidi, the eminent writer, journalist and educationalist during the panel discussion said that limiting the scope of education to mere few subjects was very detrimental to the mental growth of the students. Mr Zaidi observed that education could be used as a best tool to bring real change in the society.
He noted with concern that nations of the world had made great advancements and achieved various milestones in different but situations were still grim. He said that quality education could make a real difference and steer the people of the current dismal situations.
Partab Shivani, the CEO of Thar Education Alliance speaking on the occasion said that he and his team members after getting huge response by organizing such events in Tharparkar, Thatta and other districts he was advised by his friends and partners to go ahead with the plan in a city like Karachi He thanked the educationalists, the representatives of various organizations, officials of education departments and others to attend the different events of the festival.
He said that despite the limited the resources with the commitment and sincere efforts could help achieve the great targets in educating the youths. Mr Shivani urged the hgh-us of Sindh government to allocate the special funds for organizing such activities in every region which according to him, would create competitiveness among the students.
Ms Maleha Khan, the chief programme manager of Malala Fund during the decision said that they were trying to improve the existing education system. She said that Malala Fund was giving special focus to education of the girls and hoped that girls from the backward areas would get space during events and to shine themselves.
Ms Khan highly praised the organizers for the two-day event and said that models prepared and exhibited by both girls and boys were wonderful. “ Such students should be given more space and opuntyiries to showcase their talent and interest in such subjects,” she added.
Ms Huma Bukhari, co-chairperson of Newports Institute of Communication and Economics observed that it was the fundamental right of every student to get access to modern education adding she said that STEM education was key to in the current conditions. She highly lauded the efforts of the team of TEA to keep organizing such events.
Mr Yaqub Pechi, the chairman of Thar Education Alliance said that they were trying to give opportunities to the students of the remote and backward areas to shine at the national and international levels adding he said that all that could not be possible without the team work.
He said that they were making little efforts but were hopeful to get the positive results when the youths of those areas were given the space to shine themselves.
Ms Cheho Ohashi, chief advisor Japan International Cooperation Agency (JIca) stressed upon the quality of education with special attention to science education.
She said that only trained teachers could help impart the quality of education adding she said that her organization had been at forefront in supporting the organization in such healthy activities. Adil Darvesh, Roshan Bukhari, Mukesh Nand, Iqbal Sheikh, Prem Sagir, Jibran Jamshed, Junaid Dahar and others also spoke during different sessions moderated by the people from different institutes of the events.
