Guwahati: Assam is set to take learning beyond textbooks with ‘Nameri Wild Classroom’, an initiative that will immerse students in the wilderness of Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve, offering first-hand lessons in wildlife, forest ecology and the traditions of local communities.Forest minister Jayanta Mallabaruah announced the initiative on Saturday. It will be open to students of Class VIII and above, including college students.“A classroom without walls, right in the middle of a jungle. Sounds fancy? Well, we’re making it happen at Nameri Tiger Reserve!” Mallabaruah said in a social media post.“Introducing ‘Nameri Wild Classroom’, an initiative of the Assam forest department where students of Class VIII and above, including college students, can experience nature beyond textbooks,” he wrote.The two- to three-day residential programme will include birdwatching, forest walks, wildlife tracking, lessons in river ecology, rafting on Jia-Bharali and interactions with local communities, the minister said. Students will be guided by naturalists and forest personnel, he said.“Participants will also maintain a student field journal and receive a certificate upon completion,” Mallabaruah said, inviting schools, colleges and educators to bring their students closer to Assam’s incredible natural heritage. “After all, the best lessons aren’t always taught inside four walls!” he wrote.Nameri Tiger Reserve field director Piraisoodan B said the initiative, conceptualised by the park authority, will offer students an opportunity to experience wildlife and nature first-hand while staying at the Nameri eco-camp. The programme is scheduled to begin in the current tourism season at a nominal cost.Describing it as a pioneering initiative in Assam, Piraisoodan said it would provide students with an organised and immersive learning experience beyond the classroom. “This initiative by the forest department will offer a more structured and organised experience,” he said.The programme will feature interactions with experts and forest field staff, along with wildlife-related activities, film screenings and other events to help students develop a deeper understanding of forest ecology and wildlife conservation, he added.
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