GUWAHATI, Sept 19 � State Science and Technology Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today handed over engagement letters to 116 numbers of Science and Maths facilitators as part of a three-year scheme under Assam Science Technology and Environment Council.
These facilitators have been engaged with an aim to develop interest for subject amongst the school children.
�We have identified 116 schools located in as many constituencies where the facilitators would be engaged,� said Sarma during the ceremonial distribution of engagement letters.
The Minister while stating that the idea is to attract more and more students towards Science and Maths, said: �It is a disturbed equilibrium where 90 per cent of the students are opting for Arts or Commerce. We need to change the ratio by generating interest and encourage use of practical science among school children.�
Asserting that the facilitators would not intervene in the day-to-day activity of the school, he pointed out that each school would also have a Science and Maths Club in their premises as part of the programme.
�Besides, a sum of Rs 15,000 would be given to each facilitator per annum to organise Maths Olympiad and buy equipment,� he stated.
He went on to inform that around 500 students would be taken to different scientific institutes in places like Durgapur.
The Minister also informed that plans are afoot to set up planetarium in all the district headquarters, besides the department has also decided to give solar lamp to students securing first in the class VIII and IX school examination.
The ceremony was also attended by Commissioner Secretary, department of Science and Technology Niraj Verma, Dr IK Bhattacharya, principal, Cotton College and director ASTEC Dr SK Choudhury and chairman, SEBA, B Konwar, among others.
