Education
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launches web portal ‘Apna Chandrayaan’ for School Education
Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, launched the ‘Apna Chandrayaan’ web portal in New Delhi. Developed by NCERT under the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, the portal offers activity-based support material such as quizzes, puzzles, and more for school students, focusing on Mission Chandrayaan-3.
The event was graced by Dr. Sreedhara Panicker Somanath, Chairman, ISRO, and Secretary, Department of Space, as the Guest of Honour. Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, DoSEL, Shri K Sanjay Murthy, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Chairman, AICTE, Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman, UGC, Dr. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director, NCERT, along with other dignitaries and students.
In his address, Shri Pradhan hailed the success of Chandrayaan 3 as one of the most significant achievements of the 21st century, inspiring children across the nation. He suggested developing an app for the web portal to enhance accessibility, fostering self-learning among students. The Minister emphasized the role of Chandrayaan 3 in instilling confidence and technological understanding among students, contributing to scientific temperament. He urged making the modules elective for all classes and announced plans for more modules on diverse topics such as women empowerment and COVID-19 vaccination, aligning with India’s global knowledge-sharing initiative.
Dr. Somanath appreciated the initiative, encouraging young minds to become researchers through critical thinking. Shri Sanjay Kumar highlighted how the Minister’s suggestions led to the development of age-specific modules and announced plans for more achievements-focused modules in the future. He emphasized the content’s translation into 22 Indian languages, promoting inclusivity and accessibility.
The ‘Apna Chandrayaan’ portal offers a range of activities, including colouring books, quizzes, puzzles, and graphic novels, catering to different age groups. The content is rendered in an interactive and engaging manner, enriched with graphics, photographs, illustrations, activities, challenging questions, and more, spanning across all five stages and covering Classes I-XII of school education.
Furthermore, 10 special modules on Chandrayaan-3 provide an in-depth understanding of its scientific, technological, and social aspects. These modules encourage self-paced learning and support teachers in guiding students through experiential learning methods.
The launch marked the synergy of scientific achievements and educational innovation, promoting interdisciplinary learning and problem-solving. These activities align with the vision of NEP 2020, fostering scientific thinking and innovation among Indian students.
Source- PIB