Question : Jigyasa Scheme

(a) whether the Government is planning to implement “Jigyasa” scheme, wherein KV children would get an opportunity to visit major laboratories of the country and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has considered including other Government schools in this scheme to boost awareness amongst children in all the States and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has instituted a mechanism to monitor the schemes implemented by the Ministry in the last two years and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if not, whether the Government is likely to institute such a mechanism in the near future?

MINISTER OF STATE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES

(SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)

(a) Yes, Madam. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) have signed an MoU on 06 July 2017 to launch ‘’Jigyasa: Scientists-student Connect programme’’. The MoU envisages some of the following models of engagement:

• Student Apprenticeship programme
• Summer Vacation Programmes
• Projects of National Children’s Science Congress
• Scientists as Teachers and Teachers as Scientists
• Teachers’ Workshop
• Student Residential Programme
• Popular Lecture Series
• Visits of Scientists to Schools
• Lab specific activities/ Onsite experiments
• Science and Maths Club and many more.
The programme will connect 38 CSIR laboratories with 350 KV schools to begin with.

(b) Yes, Madam. Navodhaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) schools are also to be engaged with for which a process has been initiated. Some laboratories are involving local schools as well in their vicinity under the scientist-student interaction programme.

(c)&(d) Yes, Madam. A Joint Working Group (JWG) with senior officials from CSIR and KV has been constituted recently for implementing and monitoring the programme.

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