Over 700 school students completed a ten-day workshop under the SPARK initiative of the Department of Education and Samagra Shiksha – State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya (SEMAM), Government of Meghalaya.
The participants in this phase of the programme covered three districts and included 256 students of Sib Sing Memorial Government Higher Secondary School in West Khasi Hills; 96 students of Tirot Sing Memorial Higher Secondary School and 150 students of Umthlong Nongthliew Government Secondary School in Eastern West Khasi Hills; and 207 students of Rongrenggiri Government Higher Secondary School in East Garo Hills.
The participants received their certificates at simultaneous felicitation programmes held at their respective campuses on June 7.
Speaking at the occasion held at Umthlong village, Lynette Niangti, in-charge headmistress of Umthlong Nongthliew Government Secondary School, expressed her gratitude to the Education Department for the SPARK initiative.
“They say it only takes a spark to light a fire. In our rush to complete the syllabus, we teachers often forget that fun is a key in learning. In these past ten days, the joy and laughter in the classrooms is testament to the light and confidence that have emerged from within our students. As teachers, we are inspired and motivated to keep this spark going in our school,” Niangti said.
West Khasi Hills Additional Deputy Commissioner Mark Challam who attended the felicitation programme in Nongstoin said, “Listening to the testimonials shared by some of the students today, I believe that confidence is the most significant take-away for each of you from this programme. If you look at the world’s greatest leaders, they all started from the bottom. Life’s victories are not for the fastest or strongest, but to those who think they can. I urge you to take the lessons from these past ten days on confidence, bravery and self-belief to heart.”
Challam also interacted at length with the students who displayed their presentations on community concerns and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).
East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Vibhor Aggarwal who was present at the felicitation programme in Williamnagar applauded the students who shared their experiences with the audience.
“Your courage and confidence speak strongly to the success and impact of SPARK,” he said.
Aggarwal further added that young people have their own thoughts and opinions, but it is their shyness to express outwardly that hinders their communication skills.
“Although this ten-day programme has come to an end in your school, do not take this as the end for your learning. In order to build on these lessons, you must put them to use every day,” he said adding, “Get into the habit of speaking in English daily by reading English news out loud and by interacting with your friends in English. This will help build your confidence, your vocabulary and your public speaking skills.”
Tejimbe R. Marak, a Class 8 student of Rongrenggiri Government Higher Secondary School, shared her experience, saying, “Before SPARK, I was able to speak but I was always nervous and scared. Now I am able to stand here and speak with confidence. Thanks to our trainer, I have learnt to also use body language and power stances to build my confidence and express my words clearly.”
Stating that her favourite sessions were on STEM and critical thinking, Marak said, “The projects that we had to make taught us to think of different solutions to a problem, to use available tools for measurements and calculations, and to work together as a team in order to make the best decisions.”
Longshlur Banjop Kurbah, a Class 10 student of Umthlong Nongthliew Government Secondary School, stayed true to his name and bravely took to the stage to share his experience with the audience today.
“If it wasn’t for SPARK, I wouldn’t be able to stand here and give a speech in front of so many people. The lessons on body language have really helped me to use my hands and facial expressions to speak confidently,” he said.
He went on to say that the programme has helped them to build their confidence, courage and to be mindful of their words and behaviour.
Department officials, members of the implementing agency, and school staff were also present at the respective campus felicitation programmes. SPARK will be commencing pilot programmes in other districts and intends to cover 2,500 beneficiaries in government schools across the state.
SPARK (School Programmes in Articulation, Resilience and Kindness) is a Government of Meghalaya initiative that seeks to impart soft skills that have emerged as foundational needs for the youth of the state.
The training interventions commenced in April and, since then, teams are being deployed in government schools across districts. The modules help build confidence, basic communication skills, public speaking skills and critical thinking using STEM.
