In a move to enhance science education in rural India, Prayoga Institute of Education Research has announced a partnership with the State Bank of India Foundation (SBIF), the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of India’s largest public sector bank, and the SBI Funds Management Pvt. Ltd to expand the Kriya initiative across 12 government schools in Raichur, Karnataka. Now in its 10th year, Prayoga continues to advance research-driven solutions to strengthen science education across India.
The collaboration is a part of SBIF’s Integrated Learning Mission (ILM) project titled ‘Reimagining Science Education’, through which Prayoga will provide schools with well-stocked science lab stations for every student to conduct science experiments and curated science courseware aligned with the state and NCERT syllabi. Beyond the lab stations and courseware, the program features a structured Teacher Empowerment Program (TEP) with continuous academic mentoring for teachers. This integrated set of solutions will enable students to actively engage in experiments that foster curiosity and critical thinking, necessary to build capabilities in students. The initiative aligns well with the mandate of the NEP 2020, promoting experiential learning as the pedagogy for education.
Speaking about the collaboration, Sanjay Prakash, Managing Director of SBI Foundation, said, “Our project, as part of the Integrated Learning Mission, intends to reach students and schools with limited or no access to quality education. Our association with Prayoga will help us in our mission. This partnership is a significant step towards bridging the educational gap in rural India. By providing quality science education and the necessary resources, we are enabling students to experience science in a more practical and engaging manner. We believe this initiative, especially in the aspirational district of Raichur, will inspire students to pursue careers in Science and empower teachers to enhance their teaching methods.”
Under this initiative, Prayoga is committed to strengthening experiential science learning in the participating schools in Raichur, an aspirational district in Karnataka. Aspirational districts are part of a national initiative by NITI Aayog aimed at accelerating development in regions with untapped potential by focusing on key areas such as education, health, and infrastructure, with the support of the SBI Foundation and SBI Fund Management.
Shri Vallish Herur, Managing Trustee of Prayoga noted, “Science when learnt experientially will help students be active learners and build capabilities in addition to understanding the concepts well. Through the Kriya program, we would like to enable government school children in Raichur, a district filled with potential, an opportunity to explore science in engaging, hands-on ways. Our heartfelt thanks to the SBI Foundation for their invaluable support in making this transformative initiative possible. With the active and encouraging support of the education authorities, together, we want to create a brighter future for the children.”
Recognising that the foundation of societal progress lies in quality education, Prayoga has dedicated itself to addressing challenges within the Indian education system through concerted research into education and collaboration with policymakers and government agencies. The Kriya initiative is designed for students in grades 6 to 10, as a multi-year program, particularly in government and rural schools, to understand the impact of experiential learning of science on the development of competencies in school students in India. Kriya fosters hands-on scientific exploration and strengthens STEM education in underserved communities, nurturing scientific inquiry and advancing societal betterment.
The Kriya program is actively transforming science learning for over 11,000 students across 77 schools in Karnataka. Over 200 teachers are part of the ongoing Teacher Empowerment Program. Such initiatives play a crucial role in driving the development of our country, and this inauguration event in Raichur paves the way for meaningful progress and transformative change.
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