Shillong: Meghalaya’s SPARK initiative is pushing beyond textbooks to fix a confidence gap in rural classrooms. The project recently hit East and West Jaintia Hills, targeting 12,000 students with a new curriculum focused on soft skills and raw talent. On August 14, district events identified six top performers who will advance to the SPARK State Summit.
West Jaintia Hills selected Donnean Azar Laloo, Yutangwakor Shadap, and Lewanhaka Sariang as their top stars. East Jaintia Hills named Vianca Swer, Shanmeki Lyngdoh, and Aski Lamurong to represent their district. These students showcased skills in singing, dance, and art.
The program, which stands for School Programmes in Articulation, Resilience and Kindness, involves 500 trained teachers. It replaces standard rote learning with 10 days of sessions on STEM and public speaking. Lambok Dhar, principal of Little Star Secondary School, noted the change in her students. "I believe none of our students imagined that the programme would provide such a big platform as today’s," she said.
Sutnga-Saipung MLA Santa Mary Shylla urged students to stay true to their own identities. She praised Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma for pushing these educational reforms. Khliehriat MLA Kyrmen Shylla echoed this support, noting the heavy government investment required to turn a pilot project into a statewide effort.
Expert juries managed the selections, including local educators, filmmakers, and government officials. The initiative, initially launched by Samagra Shiksha under the Union Ministry of Education, now aims to train teachers through a 30-hour residential program designed to foster more active learning environments.
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