Two teachers convert personal car in ‘Mobile Science Lab’ in Anantnag

ANANTNAG: In Anantnag district, two teachers have introduced a Mobile Science Laboratory (MSL) concept by converting their personal car into a mobile lab.

This initiative aims to reach students in remote villages, enhance practical science experiments, and foster a greater interest in science.

By bringing science education directly to underserved areas, the teachers seek to encourage innovation and deepen students’ engagement with the subject.

Dr. Rouf Hamza Boda, Head of Institute at Govt Girls Higher Secondary School (GGHSS), Verinag, who is also the cluster head of Verinag told Rising Kashmir that he, along with fellow teacher Manzoor Javaid, aimed to amplify the ‘Sharing is Caring’ concept from the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by creating a mobile lab.

He said that according to NEP 2020, resource sharing between schools in a cluster is key to quality education. In this context, they introduced the novel concept of resource sharing through a mobile lab.

“The main focus of our initiative is to inspire students in remote schools and to encourage an innovative culture. Our concept aims at developing science skills at the elementary level through hands-on experience. Another aim is talent scouting and providing guidance,” he said.

Dr. Boda said that he is using his personal car for this initiative, believing that student welfare and effective teaching are essential goals for himself and other teachers to achieve.

Manzoor Javaid, a fellow partner in this novel concept said that they have enlisted some resource persons for this initiative, and they are all working hard to provide quality education and hands-on science laboratory experiments to students.

He said that it serves as a talent hunt to identify young raw talent and channelize it by providing a launching pad. He said that they have first introduced it in zone Verinag and are expecting to extend it to Shangus zone as well.

Shahid Hussain Qadri, with additional charge as Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Verinag, praised the initiative in which Dr. Rouf Hamza Boda has converted his personal car into a mobile laboratory along with a fellow teacher Manzoor Javaid.

He said that they transport practical apparatus in Dr. Boda’s personal car to reach remote, hilly areas, some of which lack road connectivity.

“According to the syllabus, we demonstrate practical experiments to give students a firsthand experience, which has increased their interest in science. This mobile laboratory has also helped us overcome resource shortages by sharing resources with schools through this initiative,” he added. (RK)