BIS, Madurai conducted a Two-Day Residential Training Program on Learning Science via Standards (LSVS) for Science Teachers of BIS Standard Clubs at RR INN Hotel, Tirunelveli on 2nd and 3rd December 2024. 65 Science Teachers predominantly from various Government schools located in Tirunelveli, Sivagangai and Pudukottai districts participated in this training program.
Shri S. D. Dayanand, Senior Director and Head, BIS, Madurai delivered the welcome address and outlined the program objectives. He informed about the importance of Standardization & quality in our daily life. He further informed of the Sustainable Development Goals which are to be achieved by 2030 and the role of standardization in achieving these goals. He informed that BIS has developed Lesson Plans and requested teachers to understand concepts of Lesson Plan for future dissemination to students.
Shri. M. Sivakumar, Chief Educational Officer, Tirunelveli, gave the keynote address, encouraging teachers to actively engage in the program to maximize its benefits for students. He also discussed the importance of hallmarking products, noting that students play a key role in raising awareness, which can lead to significant societal changes. He further interacted with the teachers about the benefits of the training programs, highlighting that BIS has developed 52 Lesson Plans under the "Learning Science via Standards" initiative, and encouraged teachers to familiarize themselves with these plans to incorporate a scientific approach into their teaching.
On the first day of the training program, a wide range of topics, including the core activities of BIS, features of the BIS Care App, promotional activities for standards, engagement with academia regarding the genesis and activities of Standards Clubs, an orientation film, the significance of science in daily life concerning quality and standards, the role of science teachers in promoting quality and standards, and lesson plans focusing on products such as Cement, Ballpoint Pen and Pressure Cooker were covered.
On the second day a workshop for teachers was organized in which the teachers gave presentations on the applicable scientific laws and principles related to the products of daily use viz, plastic feeding bottles, plain copier paper, stainless steel sinks for domestic purpose, mild steel wire for general engineering purposes, jute synthetic union bags for packing cement, hawai chappal, wrought aluminium utensils, square tins for ghee, vanaspathi, edible oil and bakery shortenings, iodized salt, and potable water bottles. Following the workshop, an industrial visit was organized at South India Bottling Plant and Abirami Mineral Water in Tirunelveli, where teacher observed the manufacturing facility, demonstrations of production, testing procedures and the scientific principles behind product testing. Certificates were distributed to all participants towards the end of the program.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has actively fostered over 10,000 Standards Clubs across India's educational institutions since 2021, including 344 in Southern districts of Tamil Nadu alone. These clubs, facilitated by nominated mentors, aim to cultivate a culture of quality awareness among students, emphasizing the relevance of Indian Standards in daily life. Supported by BIS through financial assistance, the clubs engage in activities geared towards empowering students as discerning consumers, equipped with tools like the BIS CARE APP