Shillong, May 19: A classroom initiative aimed at strengthening communication, emotional well-being and life skills among school students is gaining momentum across Meghalaya, with more than 6,500 students already covered under the state-supported SPARK Meghalaya programme.
SPARK Meghalaya — School Programmes in Articulation, Resilience and Kindness — has expanded to 25 government and government-aided schools since March this year, reaching students from Classes VI to X. Supported by the Meghalaya Education Department, the programme has also earned national recognition as an NEP 2020 best practice for foundational soft skills and was recently honoured at the Indian Education Congress & Awards 2026 for its contribution to community engagement in education.
Built around the principles of articulation, resilience and kindness, the initiative seeks to move beyond traditional teaching methods by introducing interactive classroom practices. These include “Question Walls”, “Kindness Walls” and peer-led public speaking activities, alongside modules focusing on communication, social-emotional learning, STEM engagement and employability-oriented life skills.
Students participating in the programme say the initiative has influenced the way they think about themselves and future opportunities. Havilah Challam, a Class 10 student from Jowai Public School, said the programme encouraged self-reflection and confidence.
“SPARK made me realise that staying safe isn’t always the same as staying true to yourself,” she said. “It reminded me to never let the voices that tell us to quiet down define us.”
Azareel Kharshandi of St Francis Xavier’s Secondary School in Mawsynram said the programme helped students understand the connection between personal interests and career possibilities.
“Before this, I used to think that hobbies and interests never really connected with future jobs. But now I realise that many of our interests and talents can actually become future career opportunities,” he said.
His remarks were later shared by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on social media, where he described the initiative as an effort to help young people recognise and develop their own confidence. He linked the programme to the state’s wider emphasis on improving learning experiences and youth development.
Teachers associated with the initiative have also reported visible changes in student engagement and classroom participation. Sylverster Mawthoh of Mynken RMSA Secondary School in Bhoirymbong said the programme encouraged educators to rethink traditional classroom interactions.
“We learned that silence is not always disobedience; sometimes it is confusion,” he said while referring to activities that encouraged students to ask questions more openly.
The initiative is also being connected with Meghalaya’s emerging creative and entrepreneurial sectors. Programme organisers said 81 student talents in areas including music, dance and visual arts have already been identified through campus and district-level events. Plans are underway to link selected students with larger state-supported platforms such as PRIME Meghalaya and the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Program.
Officials said SPARK Meghalaya is now aiming to extend its reach to more than 10,000 students during the year while also expanding teacher training efforts across rural schools in the state.
