NBSE and Mission SOAR launch SONYA to promote scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills among Class 9 students in Nagaland.
SONYA to promote scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills through real-life applications among students across Nagaland.
DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) and Mission SOAR on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the NBSE office to launch the Nagaland Science Olympiad (SONYA), an initiative aimed at promoting scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills among Class 9 students across the state.
The MoU was signed by Rangumbuing Nsarangbe, Chairperson of NBSE, and Karishma Shanghvi, Director of Shikha Institute, Mission SOAR, an update stated.
SONYA will provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of science through real-life problem-solving rather than rote memorisation.
The Olympiad is open to students who have entered Class 9 in NBSE-affiliated schools. The examination will be conducted at their respective schools or nearby designated centres.
The examination will be of 150 minutes' duration and carry 100 marks. Students will be required to analyse five real-life situations, each accompanied by a graph, table, diagram or experiment, followed by four questions.
The questions will assess their ability to interpret evidence, analyse data, explain scientific phenomena and apply their knowledge to unfamiliar situations.
The Olympiad will not require any additional syllabus, as all questions will be based on science concepts covered in Classes 6 to 8.
The questions are designed to test conceptual understanding and analytical ability, with simple language to ensure that students are not disadvantaged by language barriers.
All participants will receive certificates, while the top 100 performers will be recognised with gold, silver, bronze and merit awards. The top performers will also share a total prize pool of INR1 lakh.
Speaking on the occasion, Nsarangbe described the signing of the MoU as a milestone for the Board and said the initiative would bring a new approach to science education in Nagaland.
"Signing this MOU to launch the Science Olympiad is a milestone for the Board, the first in so many years," he said.
"We believe we are doing something new that will change the way science is studied in our schools, and we hope it will strengthen the entire ecosystem of science education in the state."
NBSE has encouraged schools and parents to register students who have an interest in science, irrespective of their academic performance, stating that the Olympiad aims to identify students with strong reasoning and analytical abilities beyond what conventional examinations may reflect.
The Olympiad is sponsored by Shikha Institute, which will also collaborate with NBSE in designing the question paper and training evaluators.
Shanghvi said SONYA would encourage students to develop scientific thinking by interpreting evidence, analysing data, questioning claims and applying their understanding to real-world problems.
"Shikha's sponsorship of SONYA signifies our goal not merely to identify students who score well in science examinations, but to nurture young people who think like scientists," she said.
NBSE is expected to announce the examination date, registration process and examination centre details soon.
About Mission SOAR
Mission SOAR is a state-wide initiative aimed at transforming public education in Nagaland into an agile, inclusive and high-performing system.
Rooted in Naga culture and aligned with national priorities and global aspirations, the initiative seeks to equip every child with grade-level competencies, 21st-century skills and a strong sense of identity.
Through innovative teaching practices, capacity-building and systemic reforms, Mission SOAR aims to develop an education model that can serve as a benchmark for the rest of India.