HYDERABAD: Wearing clean and crisp uniforms, several hundreds of government schoolgirls visited a one-day science festival and gained firsthand knowledge through various scientific projects on Thursday.

Around 144 students of seven government girls` secondary high schools of Tando Mohammad Khan set up 48 stalls of scientific projects of biology, chemistry and physics, which included solar system, electro conductivity, human digestive system, functions of body and others.

The programme titled: `Showcasing the Science Talent of Girls` was organised by the Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) and the Community Development Program (CDP) under the planning and development board of the Sindh government held at a local hall here on Thursday.

The CDP promotes scientific education among girls in secondary schools byestablishing or equipping laboratories to train teachers and students in science education. More than 300 students of government and private schools of Tando Mohammad Khan, Matiari and Hyderabad, their parents and teachers and activists of civil society organisations attended the event.

Speaking as chief guest, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences vice chancellor Prof Dr Bikha Ram said that such programmes would indeed enhance scientific understanding and confidence among young girl students who prepared such marvelous projects. `Education is the foundation of any society and girls must polish their skills for bright future,` he said.

Sana and Zoya, matriculation students of the government girls high school campus Dulha Jo Pir, Tando Mohammad Khan, explained their project titled `Shapes of Virus` and received so much appreciation.

Kumail Zehra and Kausar of government girl`s high school, Tando Mohammad Khan, had made a joint pro-ject `Electro Conductivity` Teachers and guides Bibi Asma Shah and Gul Zareen apprised audience of various projects and how to make and run them smoothly.

SCF executive director Javed Soz Halai said that students could be armed with scientific knowledge if they were taught by quali-fied teachers and trained in modern laboratories.

`It is alleged that rural talent is meager but it can be seen that these young girls belong to the interiors of Sindh, even then they have astonishing grip over scientific subjects,` he said.

SCF project officer Aisha Agha claimed that the foun-dation had trained 222 inquiry-based science teachers to benefit more than 600 girl students.

She said three solar-based digital science laboratories were established at the government schools in Shaikh Bhirkiyo, Tando Mohammad Khan city and Rajo Nizamani while another fiveones were in the pipeline in other schools of the district (Tando Mohammad Khan).

A speech competition on ` Importance of Science Education` was also held among 12 students of four schools. Three students each won the contest in three languages Urdu, English and Sindhi.