Shillong: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui awarded certificates to students at Nongtalang Government Higher Secondary School on Saturday. This event celebrated the completion of Phase 5 for the SPARK Meghalaya initiative. A total of 1,476 students received recognition across 10 campuses on July 24 and 25. The project aims to build confidence, resilience, and kindness in classrooms.
SPARK, implemented by Avenues, now reaches 10,424 students across 45 campuses. It targets an annual goal of 10,750 students in 50 schools. The curriculum covers student development, teacher training, and talent showcases. To date, 281 teachers have joined classroom observation sessions, while 446 teachers from 242 schools completed the SPARK for Teachers training module.
Students demonstrated STEM projects at the Nongtalang event. Rymbui urged the crowd to embrace creativity and problem-solving. "The difference is that you begin to discover who you are," Rymbui said. He noted that the government remains committed to digital literacy and experiential learning to improve state schooling.
Participants shared their growth. Erika Nongrum, a Class IX student, noted her newfound confidence. "Before SPARK, whenever I was asked a question in class, I was always afraid of answering because I thought I would make mistakes," she said. Other students, like Phibaribha Kharjahrin at Langtor Higher Secondary School, found that STEM activities made complex math and science concepts feel intuitive.
Educators also report shifts in their approach. Rangkynsai Wahlang, an assistant teacher, emphasized the impact of positive reinforcement. Beyond the classroom, 59 talent showcases identified 188 distinct student acts. Cabinet Minister Marcuise N. Marak spoke at Greenyard Higher Secondary School in East Garo Hills, reinforcing that discipline and resilience matter just as much as grades. The program rollout spanned districts including East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, and the Garo Hills region.
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