IIT Guwahati transforms Meghalaya’s educational landscape

By Deepika Sahu
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Students during lab sessions // Pic supplied

The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati is poised to revolutionise the educational landscape of Meghalaya in northeast India. Committed to advancing education in the state, IIT Guwahati has expanded its creative horizons to incorporate technology and experiential learning into school curricula.

As the only IIT in Northeast India, the institute has launched numerous innovative projects to enhance education in Meghalaya, with a focus on advanced STEM learning and teacher development. IIT Guwahati aims to create a sustainable and inclusive educational ecosystem that will make learning an enjoyable and empowering experience for both students and educators in Northeast India.

Speaking about IIT Guwahati’s collaborative approach to uplift the education landscape of Meghalaya, Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati, said, “We are dedicated to using our resources and expertise to enhance the educational experience in Meghalaya, ensuring that both students and teachers have access to the best tools and methodologies. By providing cutting-edge equipment, comprehensive training, and continuous support, we aim to create an environment where learning is interactive, engaging, and effective.”

Under the aegis of the Ministry of Education’s Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan Projects, IIT Guwahati, in collaboration with Samagra Shiksha Meghalaya, has undertaken multiple state-level initiatives to enhance STEM education, foster innovation, and build capacity among students and teachers in Meghalaya. So far, over 50,000 students across 2,200 schools have been covered under these unique initiatives, which include:

Setting up 50 Tinkering Labs in Secondary Schools

IIT Guwahati set up 50 tinkering labs, trained over 70 teachers, and impacted over 2,500 students. High-quality equipment was installed based on a specially curated curriculum. A 5-day residential training programme for teachers was conducted. Each school received hands-on sessions in coding, robotics, AI, IoT, and soft skills. Interestingly, these year-long activities, monitored by IIT Guwahati mentors, will showcase student innovations in a centralised fest.

During teachers’ training sessions // Pic supllied

Robotics Kit for 750 Schools

The Robotics Kit project aimed to supply kits to 750 primary and secondary schools. IIT Guwahati experts selected modular, plug-and-play materials suitable for various age groups and developed content around five themes: gardening, battery-operated cars and robots, machines and automation, sound play, and fun with light.

Exposure to Advanced Research

MEGHQUEST exposed over 4,000 students from more than 2,000 schools to advanced scientific research and technology at IIT Guwahati. A three-day visit was hosted for students in seven batches, providing kits that included a t-shirt, stationery, certificate, and activity calendar. Hands-on activities in labs and workshops, and soft-skills workshops covering communication, stress management, and leadership were conducted.

Mentoring Project for Teachers

The School Mentoring project enhanced pedagogical skills for over 2,000 teachers. A two-day mentoring programme focused on science and mathematics, with faculty and researchers providing guidance on curriculum implementation and teaching methods. Workshops on advanced pedagogical techniques were conducted, and online support through WhatsApp groups was established.

Science Experiment Kits

IIT Guwahati designed kits containing over 40 experiments aligned with the school curriculum. Training sessions were conducted for over 2,000 teachers on using the kits, and live demonstrations of experiments were provided, along with instructional materials for conducting experiments.

School mentoring sessions // Pic supplied

Science & Maths Club Formation

IIT Guwahati has developed comprehensive guidelines for forming science and mathematics clubs and conducted a training programme for teachers on managing these clubs and engaging students. Each school received activity lists and science kits for club activities, and expert webinars featuring national-level STEM experts were organised.

Science & Maths Olympiad

The Science & Maths Olympiad encouraged a competitive spirit and evaluated knowledge across 390 schools, involving over 11,000 students. Awards were given to district and state toppers, and logistical support ensured the competition ran smoothly.

Quiz Competition

The Quiz Competition aimed to enhance general knowledge among students. IIT Guwahati faculty created detailed question papers covering science, mathematics, and general trivia, ensuring a balanced assessment of knowledge and problem-solving skills. The event, which was meticulously organised, was a success and followed ethical practices like rigorous monitoring. An evaluation process ensured fairness and accuracy in scoring.


Deepika Sahu has been a journalist for 29 years and she has worked with some of India’s leading media houses. Right now, she is independently engaged in content creation and curation. Twitter: @menondeepika; Instagram: @moodydeepika; Facebook: Deepika Sahu

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