Thar Education Alliance organized the Laar Science Festival in Thatta- Pakistan on December 14-15, 2018

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Laar Science Festival was organized by Thar Education Alliance (TEA), Laar Education Campaign, Shell Pakistan, Pakistan Alliance for Math and Science (PAMS) and Child Rise with the support of District Government of Thatta and ECO Science Foundation at Thatta Sports Complex, Thatta City in South of Pakistan on December 14-15, 2018.

Objective of the Laar Science Festival was to provide an opportunity to rural students and student from far furlong areas around Thatta to learn about the latest practices and advancements in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. The foremost objective of the festival was to promote a culture of inquiry and hands-on learning in the country’s education and broaden the horizon of students and their families.

Provisional Ministers and Parliamentarians from the region witnessed of the event. Mr. Taimur Talpur, Minister of Science and Technology (Sindh) encouraged Laar Science Festival organizers to spread such waves around for possible change. He promised to establish science centres in the region in collaboration with School Education and Literacy Department. A large number of teachers, entrepreneurs, science specialists and government officials as well as parents and small and medium business people attended the event including Deputy Commissioner of Thatta district and Senator Ms. Sassui Palijo.

President ECO Science Foundation Prof. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro and Dean Faculty of Computer Engineering of the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) Jamshoro attended the festival as panelists in a discussion on the importance of STEM education and IBSE approach for teaching and learning STEM. During his speech he admired the contribution of provisional and private stakeholders for organizing science festival in Thatta. The two experts said that bringing the students from remote areas to mainstream and giving them STEM or STEAM education is very important for corporate social Development. President ECOSF shared the programmes of STEM-IBSE being promoted by ECOSF and its international partners and networks and invited the local organizers to benefit from them. They also appreciated the participation of small and medium business development institutions of Government and business people. Afterwards, a session on Climate Change and Education was conducted wherein Prof. Sarfaraz Hussain Solangi the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Sindh University, Thatta Campus shared the global situation with particular reference to water and sea levels around the coastal areas of Thatta. A session on on promotion of small business “Be your own boss” was also held wherein some business persons shared their success stories for the young students.

The festival showcased scientific models and projects from over 50 schools and colleges. Laar Science Festival was attended by over 7,000 students, teachers, entrepreneurs, science specialists and government officials in the two days. 

In the lead-up to the Laar Science Festival, an assessment test for mathematics and science for students of grades VI-XII was conducted on December 9 in Badin, Sujawal and Thatta districts. Over 20,000 students participated in this test, of which the best scoring candidates were awarded prizes.