Spirit of STEM education for gifted students should be human-centric: Prof. Sumida
Pune, 21st February 2026 : Educational institutions and teachers should think of gifted students on the basis of experimentation, innovation, and creativity. The spirit of STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) should also be human-centric, asserted Professor Manabu Sumida, Faculty of Education; Director, Centre for Gifted Education and Talent Development (EU-GATE), Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan.
In a special program organized on the occasion of the completion of 12 years of Kaveri Gifted Education and Research Center (KGERC), Prof. Sumida gave information about the activities and education methods related to gifted education in Japan. The program was held at the Kannada Sangha Campus, Ganeshnagar, Erandwane. Takashi Kawamoto, Vice Principal of the Special Needs Education School affiliated with the Department of Education at Ehime University, Sanjita Prasad, part of the Japanese delegation from Ehime University, Malati Kalmadi, Honorable Secretary of Kannada Sangha and Founding Director of KGERC, and Sumathi Srinivasan, Center-in-Charge of KGERC, were also present.
Prof. Sumida further said, “Science is not limited to the research of facts and objective findings. It is an element of scientific culture that encompasses history, language, and a global perspective. Japan has combined this global perspective with its own traditional knowledge and gave it a national character. The Western perspective on nature is objective, while the Japanese perspective is subjective. Westerners think of nature in a distant, analytical perspective, while the Japanese think of man as a part of nature. Science is universal, it is not the heritage of any one country. Otherwise, Japan would not have produced such a large number of Nobel laureates.”
While sharing his experience at the Kids Academy in Japan that focuses on STEAM education, he said that for students who have been gifted with intelligence, an education system based on activities and experiments is implemented, alongside books. These students are five years of age and older. This Academy has emphasized innovation, creativity, and experimentation. There is an effort to develop students’ observation, attentive attitude, and research. He also said that the work being done by KGERC in this regard is remarkable.
Malati Kalmadi said that there is a need for awareness among schools, educational institutions, parents, and students about the concept of STEM education, training of teachers, and research. Dr. Sameena Manasawala, Head of Gifted and Talented Education at KGERC elaborated on the 12-year journey of KGERC. The Kaveri STEM Nurturing Plan was presented by Pallavi Naik, Head of Academics and Learning at Kaveri Group of Institutes, Dr. Madhuri Chittewan – Principal of Dr. Kalmadi Shamarao High School Baner, and teachers from various schools of Kaveri Group of Institutes. Teachers and educationists from S. B. Patil Public School and Dastur Group of Schools were also present on this occasion. Dr. Devasena Desai, Associate Director of Kaveri Counselling, Empowerment, and Gifted Center, formally introduced Prof. Sumida. Ishani Pande, Research Associate at KGERC, moderated the program and proposed the Vote of Thanks.
