PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
Students and teachers who attended The Pioneer’s ‘Mainstreaming Science, Technology and Innovation for a Prosperous Uttarakhand’ programme said that schools need to give more importance to practical learning, responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) and skills that prepare students for the future.
Student Harshita Negi said that the programme taught her that success is about improving yourself instead of comparing yourself with others. Schools should create more opportunities for students to explore their interests through activities beyond the classroom. “Students should learn how to use AI, but they should also understand where and when to use it responsibly,” she said. Negi also suggested that schools should teach basic money management, coding, cybersecurity and entrepreneurship. The education system should focus more on practical skills and creative thinking instead of depending mainly on memorisation and examinations, she added.
Teacher Narendra Singh Rawat said that schools have science and computer laboratories but students often do not get enough time to use them because of the heavy syllabus. “We have the facilities, but children rarely get enough time to perform experiments. If they don’t use the labs, how will they learn?” he said. Rawat said that students remain focused on board examinations, leaving little room for practical learning. Speaking about AI, he said that computer science students are already using tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini for programming, while teachers are also exploring how such technology can be used in classrooms.
Another teacher Saurabh Mulasi said that students should be encouraged to connect what they learn in classrooms with real-life problems. He said that science and technology should not remain limited to textbooks but should help students think of practical solutions to everyday challenges.
