Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has sponsored a mobile science laboratory, an innovative model of learning for children from the underprivileged sections of the society and teachers of government schools.
The mobile science laboratory was launched under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in February this year between BHEL and Agastya International Foundation, Bengaluru to assist teachers of government schools help instigate scientific aptitude among the children from under privileged sections under BHEL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. While BHEL will fund the project cost of Rs.1.68 crore, Agastya International Foundation will be responsible for upkeep of the laboratories.
The foundation will operate three such laboratories, one each in the vicinity of three units of BHEL at Jhansi, Hardwar and Tiruchi. The laboratories would seek to raise scientific awareness among children. They will also help update students and teachers on the latest scientific concepts.
The Mobile Science Laboratories will cover over 30 rural areas in Tiruchi district. More than 60,000 students are expected to benefit from the project over the next three years.
The salient features of the programme would be hands-on and interactive learning, exposure to new ideas and methods of learning, linkage to school syllabus, peer-to-peer instruction and day and night community visits. The mobile laboratory was flagged off by S.Gopinath, Executive Director, BHEL, Tiruchi, at a function held at the BHEL campus on Thursday.
