Basic Science needs to be highlighted in schools:Official

Tiruchirapalli, Jan 26: The time has come to provide opportunity to study Basic Science and stressing on its importance at the school level, according to D Jagannathan, Director of School Education, Government of Tamil Nadu.

Winding up a five-day Southern India Science Fair (SISF) 2008 here yesterday, he said concentrating on science subjects only during the examination time, defies logic and creative objectivity.

We should take a re-look on the study of basic sciences in schools and colleges against the backdrop of the importance being accorded to engineering, medicine and Information Technology, he added.

Mr Jagannathan said it is imperative that the students were taught the scientific concepts through proper application.

'Science Fairs' instil creativity in the minds of students by helping them to understand the concept properly, he added.

The Director said Science should evoke curiosity in the minds of students. They should also learn to apply science in day-to-day life, he added.

Official sources said out of a total of 250 exhibits, prizes were awarded under three categories. Individual-student exhibit; Student-group exhibit, and Individual-teacher exhibit for Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, and Puducherry.

The model on Stone-Crusher presented by Durvada Prasad, a standard X student of Andhra Pradesh, was chosen for participation in the International Science Fair to be held at Seoul, this year, the sources added.

Mr Jaganathan honoured Prasad with a trophy and scholarship of Rs 500 a month for one year, constituted by the National Council of Science Museums.

UNI