NSHM to impart training on lateral thinking techniques in schools

Kolkata, Jan 29 (UNI) NSHM Knowledge Campus will train teachers from 30 schools in West Bengal on lateral thinking techniques to usher in innovation and creativity among young minds using unique thinking tools.

Speaking at the launch of a pilot project by NSHM Knowledge Campus in collaboration with the De Bono School of Lateral Thinking and Cognitive Intelligence, Chief mentor of NSHM Campus Cecil Antony here today said, ''In the first phase, 30 schools of West Bengal and Kolkata would be screened and shortlisted for the Training of Teachers (ToT) programme. These trainers would then implement the De Bono thinking techniques and skills in their schools.

In this regard, NSHM's Head of Learning Systems Prof Krishnendu Sarkar said, ''As a part of a Reach Out programme, 360 schools across India, 90 from each zone, would be brought under the ambit of this project over the next five years to impart De Bono techniques to over five lakh students.'' ''For the first time, the pioneering works of Edward De Bono would be translated in all major Indian regional languages,'' Mr Antony said here.

The first book in the series to be launched would be the Bengali version of ''Six Thinking Hats'', he said, adding that other Indian language editions would soon follow.

''Our broader objective is to ensure that these thinking concepts and techniques find practical use in our daily lives and stimulate creative thinking, innovation and develop problem resolving abilities, especially among the youth,'' Mr Antony said.

''Lateral thinking uses methods of thinking concerned with changing concepts and perception. It is about reasoning that is not immediately obvious and about ideas that may not be obtainable by using only traditional step-by-step logic.

Speaking on lateral thinking process, chief mentor of the Cognitive Research Trust(CoRT) Peter De Bono said, ''Lateral thinking involves disrupting the apparent thinking sequence and arriving at the solution from another angle.'' Edward De Bono, renowned for his work on ''Six Thinking Hats'' technique and ''Direct Attention Thinking Tools'' framework, has written over 60 books with translations into 37 languages and has been invited to lecture in 54 countries. The Oxford Brooks University is in the process of validating all De Bono programmes UNI DPM LL DB2005