Vigyan Kasauti

Vigyan Kasauti is a unique test in Maths and Science conducted in English and Gujarati for students of class 8 in Gujarat. It is an initiative of the Gujarat Science Academy (GSA), with the aim of improving science education in the state and instill the scientific spirit in school children. The first Vigyan Kasauti was organised in 2002 with the professional help of Educational Initiatives and executed with the support of the Government of Gujarat.

GSA is a premier institution in Gujarat composed of senior scientists and others interested in the promotion and development of Science. For the improvement of science education at the school level, GSA has initiated Vigyan Kasauti as a first step, to be followed by teacher training and preparation of non-text book subject exposure material. Education specialists of Educational Initiatives developed the Vigyan Kasauti test after doing a systematic curriculum research of class 8.

EI also handled the publicity and logistics for conducting the test. The test received strong government support - the test material was distributed through the District Education Officers to all the schools.

Why?
Vigyan Kasauti has twin aims - to expose children to the spirit of fun and excitement in science, while obtaining independent information on how well basic concepts are being understood by children all over the state. It is thus a ‘fun’ test that requires the child to think, not simply recall, as is the case with regular school tests and Board exams. In the long run the organisers hope to familiarise students with questions requiring thinking and analysis and develop in them an interest for science. This also helps to expose school and government authorities to an external independent assessment and get them to accept the need as well as the value of indep endent assessments like these.

To enable a large number of students to take the test, the fee for the test was kept at a low of Rs. 40 per child and it was waived for deserving and interested students if it was brought to the notice of the organisers.

Who were the beneficiaries?
About 5000 students from 200 schools of Gujarat took the test. Detailed student-wise feedback was provided to each child. Students received an accurate skill profile showing their strengths and weaknesses in terms of scholastic skills. Each participating child received

1. Question Booklet (at the time of the test)
2. Detailed Solutions Booklet (first of its kind in India!)
3. Certificate
4. Question wise analysis
5. Skill - based performance analysis

Results of the project
The project was appreciated widely by both schools and the government. The Government of Gujarat decided to conduct a regular Nidaan Kasauti for all subjects starting from 2003 onwards. EI continues to interact with the Gujarat Government to design and conduct such tests. A set of Fun Pages has been included in the textbooks for class 8 in Maths and Science, which has been developed partly based on the Vigyan Kasauti results.