Representatives from NBSE and Mission SOAR pose for a photo during the signing of the MoU at NBSE office in Kohima on November 6.
Kohima, November 6 (MExN): The Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) and Mission SOAR on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the Nagaland Science Olympiad (SONYA), a new state-level examination aimed at encouraging analytical thinking and practical understanding of science among Class 9 students.
The MoU was signed at the NBSE office by Rangumbuing Nsarangbe, Chairperson, NBSE, and Karishma Shanghvi, Director, Shikha Institute, Mission SOAR.
SONYA will provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of science through a single written examination based on real-life problems, focusing on scientific reasoning and application rather than rote memorisation.
Students enrolled in Class 9 in NBSE-affiliated schools across Nagaland will be eligible to participate. The examination will be conducted at their respective schools or nearby designated centres.
Describing the initiative as a milestone for the Board, Nsarangbe said the launch of the Science Olympiad was the first of its kind in many years. She expressed hope that the initiative would bring a change in the way science is taught and studied in schools and strengthen the overall science education ecosystem in the state.
The examination is designed to assess students' ability to interpret graphs, evaluate experiments, analyse evidence and apply scientific concepts to unfamiliar situations, rather than merely reproduce textbook definitions and answers.
The 150-minute examination will carry 100 marks and comprise five real-life situations, each accompanied by a graph, table, diagram or experiment for analysis, followed by four questions. Students will be required to explain scientific phenomena, assess evidence and apply their knowledge to new problems.
The Olympiad will not have a separate syllabus, with all questions based on science concepts taught from Classes 6 to 8. The questions will be designed to test reasoning and understanding rather than trick students through complicated wording. The language will also be kept simple to ensure that English proficiency does not become a barrier to participation.
All participants will receive certificates, while the top 100 performers will be recognised with Gold, Silver, Bronze or Merit awards. The top performers will also share a total prize pool of Rs 1 lakh.
The NBSE has encouraged schools and parents to motivate all students with an interest in science to participate, irrespective of their academic rankings, stating that the Olympiad aims to identify students whose reasoning abilities may not always be reflected in their regular examination scores.
The Olympiad is sponsored by Shikha Institute, which will also collaborate with NBSE in designing the question paper and training evaluators.
Karishma Shanghvi said SONYA would assess students' ability to interpret evidence, analyse data, question claims and apply scientific understanding to real-life problems. She said Shikha Institute's sponsorship reflected its objective of nurturing young people who think like scientists rather than merely identifying students who perform well in science examinations.
The NBSE will announce the examination date, registration process and details of examination centres in due course.
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 the country.
