KPIT's Mobile App To Enable Citizens To Volunteer As Science Teachers

Pune,12 September, 2016: KPIT (BSE: 532400; NSE: KPIT) announced the launch of the Chhote Scientists mobile app at the inaugural event of Jnana Prabodhini’s Science Exhibition on Sunday, 11^th September. The app will help in widening the reach of the social initiative, Chhote Scientists, which is aimed at cultivating interest in science amongst children and encouraging them to solve real-world problems using practical applications and experiments.

The Chhote Scientists program has benefited over 10,000 government school children in rural Pune, Mumbai, Jalna and Bangalore through experiment-led sessions by KPIT employee volunteers and Jnana Prabodhini volunteers who teach basic concepts of science using easily available material. The mobile app will enable people - looking to volunteer for such teaching programs - to collaborate with KPIT and receive mentoring to conduct classes at the beneficiary schools.

The Android app has been developed by volunteers from KPIT and Jnana Prabodhini, and is available on the Play store for free. It will provide teachers with teaching aids such as reading material and audio-visual material for learning classroom experiments. The app will also let users receive information about the sessions planned across different schools, submit volunteer feedback, rate sessions and upload pictures or videos of scientific experiments. This will help in standardizing quality of teaching and course delivery, align teachers, subject matter experts and students on one forum, and encourage exchange of ideas.

Kishor Patil, CEO and Managing Director, KPIT said, “The use of the mobile app will give a huge impetus to the Chhote Scientists program by creating an inclusive and collaborative ecosystem of teachers and students. With the continued efforts of our employees and citizen volunteers getting inducted into the program, we expect to increase our beneficiary-base to one lakh by 2021.”

Arvind Paranjpye, Director-Planetarium, Nehru Science Center, Mumbai said, “Chhote Scientists is an innovative program focused on nurturing young minds to think scientifically. It encourages them to come up with new ideas and solutions. The mobile app will go a long way in encouraging more people to contribute towards this goal.”

Launched in 2012, the Chhote Scientists program at present conducts sessions for children studying in the 8^th and 9^th grades.