NESTS launches ‘Amazon Future Engineer Program’ for Eklavya Model Residential Schools

National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) today launched the Third Phase of the ‘Amazon Future Engineer Program’ in 50 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) spread across Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and Tripura. The third phase would include an orientation on blockchain, artificial intelligence, coding, block programming and AI sessions.

The Commissioner, NESTS Shri Ajeet Kumar Srivastava also inaugurated the four-day in-person teachers’ training workshop as well as the EMRS Coders Expo, an exhibition of Top 20 Coding Projects from EMRSs during the previous academic year, in New Delhi.

Speaking at the event, Sh. Ajeet Kumar Srivastava, Commissioner, NESTS highlighted the importance of empowering tribal educators with the skills necessary to teach emerging technologies. Further, during the ceremony, the Commissioner, NESTS felicitated the Top 3 Student Coding Projects for their creativity and innovation, along with the Top 3 IT Teachers for their dedication and guidance throughout the year.

The third phase of the Amazon Future Engineer Program will be rolled out across 410 proposed EMRSs in India. The Amazon Future Engineer Program has been running for two years, has already introduced over 7,000 students in grades 6 to 8 to the fundamentals of computer science and block programming, with over 50 teachers trained in the previous phases. The third phase will expand the curriculum to include blockchain, artificial intelligence, and coding for students in grades 6 to 9. Additionally, project-based virtual sessions will be provided for class 10 students, further aligning with the CBSE AI Skills Curriculum.

NESTS remains committed to fostering technological literacy and modernizing education for tribal students across the nation. Through these capacity-building programs, NESTS aims to ensure that tribal students are well-prepared for future careers in STEM fields, contributing to India’s technological advancement.