National Teacher’s Science Congress

National Teachers’ Science Congress (NTSC) is being organized biennially by NCSTC - Network of  Department of Science and Technology. It provides a forum to secondary and higher secondary teachers of the country to enhance their level of scientific knowledge and skills. Initiated  by RVPSP (Rashtriya Vigyan Evam  Prodyogiki Sanchar Parishad) of Department  of Science and Technology,  National  Teachers’  Science  Congress  provides  a  forum to  teachers of  the  country to  interact. NTSC is a caucus for teaching population of the country to communicate their innovative concepts, share their creativity in the methodologies of science education. Besides sharing educative processes, participating teachers are allowed to attend interactive workshops conducted by renowned teacher educators and experts of ’Hands on Science’. During Congress, teacher - researchers share their results of experiments and innovations,  which is followed by brainstorming sessions by eminent educationists and scientists on educational policy and issues related to focal theme areas. Also organized are a series of training workshops/hands on experiments (Activity Corners) where teachers amalgamate with activists/innovators of related areas. An exhibition on science, technology, pedagogy and innovative learning resources is organized at the venue. A draft declaration is circulated among the participants during the meet and the recommendations approved by the general body of participants are forwarded for necessary action to the concerned   Ministries of the Government of India. Usually, a National Core Committee under the Chairmanship of Head, RVPSP-DST comprising of members drawn from RVPSP-DST, NCSTC-Network, NCERT, MOEF and MHRD decides the details of the forthcoming programme, selection of Focal Theme and subthemes of each conference.

The first session of NTSC was held at Bhopal in 2003, where teachers from Madhya Pradesh participated in good numbers. The 2nd meet was again held in Madhya Pradesh at Ujjain in 2004 on the theme “School in the Service of Society”.  Karnataka Rajya Vidynan Parishad, Bengaluru, hosted the 3rd meet in 2005 on the theme “Innovations in Teaching Physical Sciences”.  Renowned Physicist and educationist Prof. Yash  Pal  shared his observations on National Curriculum Framework  with  the  participants. Since then it has become  biennial  activity. The 4th NTSC was held at Rajiv Gandhi Navodaya Vidyalaya, Dehradun in 2007, hosted by PAHAL, Uttarakhand on the focal theme “Environment Education  -- For Better Life”. There, Sri Sunder Lal   Bahuguna, an eminent activist and environmentalist in relation to Tehri Dam and Chipko movements, interacted with participants enlightening them on environmental issues. The latest National Teachers Science Congress was recently organized at Regional Institute of Education, Bhubaneswar. The General Assembly of the United Nations had resolved that the triennium 2007-09 will be the International Year of Planet Earth and member countries will develop and conduct regional and local activities targeted to share between scientists and general educationists to “create a safer and prosperous planet earth”. Hence the 5^th NTSC was organized with focal theme “Understanding Planet Earth”. About 650 abstracts were received by the organizers and were placed before a National Expert Group for screening. From which about 300 papers/projects were invited for participation from 30 states and union territories. Four parallel technical sessions were conducted focusing on the four subthemes of Innovations in Teaching - Learning and Other Pedagogic Practices, Issues Related with Curriculum, Impact of Human Interventions and The Paradigm of Sustainable Development. Two parallel poster sessions were conducted in pre as well as post lunch periods. The response to exhibition was overwhelming during entire congress. The stall of a teacher from rural UP was epitome of the fact that one never requires big infrastructure to develop science model and toys. He used Bamboo to design science toys and models. Hydroponics or growing plants without soil was another big attraction of the exhibition. The learning resources of Vigyan Prasar and RVPSP were also in great demand.

The plenary sessions with renowned educationists were most illuminating experiences. Plenary sessions were addressed by Prof. Yashpal, Er. Anuj Sinha and Dr. Madhu Pant. The focal theme of Prof. Yashpal’s talk was woven around ‘Learning from children’ as children observe more than grown up people. Er. Anuj Sinha, Director RVPSP hinted on formation of Regional Innovation Science Hubs. Dr Madhu Pant emphasized that Children, Scientific enquiry and Human Progress move together. The participating teachers however enjoyed the hands on science workshops conducted by science activist Suresh Agarwal and former Curator of Science Museum, Kolkata Mr. Samar Bagchi. Samar Da’s demonstration on basic astronomical facts like phases of moon, change in weather, motion of stars in night sky, eclipse etc., using participants as sun, moon and stars was particularly instructive and inspiring. The enthusiasm of octogenarians Prof. Yashpal and Samar Da is worth emulating.        

It is pertinent to mention that participation from Jammu & Kashmir was minimal in all these Science congress probably due to lack of awareness. There is however reason to celebrate as the paper entitled ‘Impact of Increasing Human population on Wular Lake’ presented by Iftikhar Rashid Wani of Bandipore was selected among top 30 papers of the 5th congress. Hope this will give other teachers of state a motivation of undertaking research activities at school level and participating in next teacher’s congress in large numbers.