JSW Foundation sponsors 25 Mini Science Centers to BMC Schools in Mumbai

MUMBAI, India - May 13, 2015 - PRLog -- Extending its broad support towards improving quality of education in India, JSW Foundation, the CSR arm of the Jindal Group, has taken up to sponsor 25 Mini Science Centers to BMC schools in Mumbai. A Mini Science Centre has 60 interactive science & maths working models explaining concepts from textbooks like Newton’s Disk, Periscopes, Archimedes Screw, Infinity tunnel, Pythagoras theorem, etc.

As part of this initiative, one of the key Mini Science Centre installation was launched in Colaba Municipal Secondary School, Mumbai.

The chief guest at the inauguration was Mumbai Mayor Snehal Ambekar and Chairman of BMC Education Committee, Vinod Shelar. Mayor Snehal Ambekar took keen interest in understanding maths & science working models at Mini Science Center.  She said, “These working models will help students to understand science & maths concepts better. These are really insightful and students are going to enjoy studying with them.  Great initiative by JSW.”

According to a latest white paper released by an NGO, the dropout rate in BMC schools has gone up from six (out of 100 students) in 2009-10 to 12 in 2013-14. Major reasons cited are poor quality of education, teachers and infrastructure. Even BMC official site mentions enhancing standard of education in BMC schools by teacher training & capacity building as one of the strategic plans. On this background, this initiative by JSW of providing latest teaching aids in the form of Mini Science Center to BMC schools is apt. This will help improve quality of education in BMC schools and decrease dropout rate.

JSW Foundation has taken this initiative in collaboration with STEM Learning Pvt Ltd. STEM Learning has developed Mini Science Center with the help from renowned scientists and educationist in India for students of class 5^th to 10^th of SSC, CBSC & ICES Boards. Mini Science Center is approved by MSCERT (Maharashtra Education Board) and has 100+ installations in rural & urban private & public schools across India.

STEM Learning also trains teachers to use Mini Science Center working models for classroom experiments.  JSW has ensured that this Mini Science Center installation does not remain as one-time affair but there is continuous monitoring of its effectiveness in science learning. STEM Learning has developed a periodic assessment test for same. A senior JSW Foundation official said,”It is this partnership between JSW Foundation, STEM and the BMC management that holds promise to reach out to many talented children in BMC schools.”

About JSW Foundation

JSW Foundation is an independent trust that administers the social development initiatives of the JSW Group. The Foundation, chaired by Mrs. Sangita Jindal, works in the fields of Education, Health, Environment, Livelihood, Sports, Art, Culture & Heritage.  JSW Foundation is in constant pursuit of making life better for communities all over India.