Shillong, Nov 6: SPARK reached another milestone on Thursday, with more than 2,000 students completing Phase 2 of the programme across government and government-aided schools in Meghalaya.

Closing ceremonies were held in Shillong, Samanda, Rongjeng, Dadenggre, Rymbai, and Betasing, with Jirang and Patharkhmah scheduled to conclude in the coming days. The programme continues to strengthen confidence, clarity in expression, emotional awareness and cooperation among students in the classroom.

At St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Shillong, the SPARK Student Handbook and the first edition of the SPARK Newsletter “Inside ARK” were released. The Handbook serves as a steady learning companion, guiding students to express themselves clearly, reflect on their experiences, and build confidence over time. The Newsletter documents stories and shifts from across participating campuses, highlighting how students are learning to collaborate and engage with understanding and empathy.

Speaking about the programme’s purpose and direction, Shri Jagdish Chelani, IAS, State Project Director, SEMAM-SSA, emphasised that SPARK supports a deeper understanding of learning. “SPARK is about building the foundation for lifelong learning – where comprehension, communication, and compassion meet to prepare our students not just for exams, but for life,” he shared. Addressing the students in Shillong today, he also reflected on the journey from education to wisdom, saying, “What you learn in school begins as education, but it becomes knowledge when you understand it through your teachers and your experiences. And when you apply that knowledge with care and judgment, it becomes wisdom. That is the journey you are on.”

Sister Sonia Chacko, Principal of St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, spoke about the change she has witnessed in classrooms, saying, “The positive impact has been clearly visible in our classrooms. Students who once held back now speak with confidence, work together, and show empathy in the way they learn and interact. SPARK has helped them express themselves, handle challenges with resilience, and understand one another with greater compassion. These are the foundations of true education, and we are proud to see them grow in our students.”

Across campuses, students described how SPARK helped them grow in confidence and self-belief. In Rymbai Government Higher Secondary School, Class X student Bornali Rabha shared, “I used to be very quiet and afraid to speak. Through SPARK, I learned that confidence doesn’t mean being perfect – It means trying even when you are afraid. I no longer hide behind fear.”

At St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, Shillong, Class X student Alfiba Ryntathiang reflected on how SPARK encouraged deeper self-awareness, saying, “SPARK felt different. It made us look inward and think about who we are becoming. I realised that every word can carry depth when it comes from the heart.” She added, “I used to be afraid to come forward, but today I chose to try. I know I have grown into a braver version of myself.”

Teachers observed meaningful changes in classroom participation and cooperation. Anthony A. Sangma, a teacher at Dadenggre, noted, “On the first day, many students were shy and nervous to speak. Over the course of SPARK, we saw real growth in their confidence and expression as they learned to support one another and step forward with courage.”

In addition to communication and life-skilling modules, SPARK integrates a STEM-based experiential component that strengthens comprehension, reasoning, and applied learning. Through guided activities and real-life problem contexts, students explore how concepts such as percentages, fractions, and ratios operate in the world around them. By working in groups, discussing solutions aloud, and explaining their reasoning, students begin to see Science and Mathematics not as subjects to memorise, but as tools to understand daily life and future possibilities.

Reflecting on this experience, Class IX student Gitingra M. Sangma of Rongjeng RMSA Higher Secondary School shared, “Before SPARK, I found Science and Mathematics difficult and didn’t see how they connected to daily life. Through the activities and discussions, I understood the concepts more easily and learned why they matter.”

Across campuses, these classroom explorations were showcased during Certification Days, where students demonstrated how curiosity, discussion, and collaboration can turn learning into something practical, enjoyable, and meaningful.

Daphishisha Kharhujon, Project Coordinator for SPARK at Avenues, spoke about the partnership-driven design of the programme: “SPARK is built to work with the classroom, not outside it. Teachers co-facilitate alongside trainers, and it is their presence and daily practice that sustain the learning. When classrooms feel safe and inclusive, students find the courage to express, listen, and understand one another.” She shared that the programme’s emphasis on Social Emotional Learning aligns with the NAS-PGI vision of safe, supportive schools where students grow both academically and emotionally.

Highlighting the curriculum’s values-driven approach, Jasmine P.S. Laitphlang, Head of Academics and Training at Avenues, said, “SPARK is built on the belief that confidence, comprehension and kindness are teachable, life-shaping skills.” Trainers lead sessions alongside teachers, who sustain learning through SPARK’s Habit-Building Calendar. The programme is rooted in Articulation, Resilience and Kindness, expressed through six learning personas that help students recognise themselves as collaborators, storytellers, explorers, helpers, builders, and artists in the everyday work of learning and living.

Phase 2 of the programme was implemented across the campuses of St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Shillong; St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, Shillong; Rongjeng Government Upper Primary School, Rongjeng; Rongjeng RMSA Higher Secondary School, Rongjeng; Dadenggre Government Higher Secondary School, Dadenggre; Rymbai Government Higher Secondary School, Rymbai; Chiringpara RMSA Secondary School, Betasing; and Rongrenggiri Government Higher Secondary School, Samanda, with Jirang Government Secondary School and Patharkhmah Government Higher Secondary School scheduled to conclude in the coming days.

SPARK is implemented by Avenues Meghalaya in collaboration with SEMAM-SSA, under the Department of Education, Government of Meghalaya, supported by the Ministry of Education, Government of India through Samagra Shiksha.

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