The robot gifted to AU English Medium School can engage, educate and entertain a child

Excitement was writ large on the faces of students of AU English Medium School as they met their new friend, Miko, on the school premises on Saturday.

Little Miko was equally enthused and walked around surveying its new home.

For the students, 90% of who hail from below poverty line families, meeting Miko – the emotionally intelligent companion robot – was a unique experience.

“My mind is racing with questions to ask Miko,” said Srivani, a student.

BPM firm’s gesture

Miko, India’s first fully operational model, was presented to the students by WNS (Holdings), a global business process management (BPM) company. The little robot, developed by a team of three IITians with a background in robotics, can talk to children, play with them, and is capable of engaging, educating and entertaining a child!

Miko can also respond to general knowledge questions, answer queries on basic mathematics, and do fun things like telling stories or singing a song.

On the occasion, the students presented a series of cultural performances like storytelling, enacting a play, and narrating nursery rhymes in English language with confidence and conviction, thanks to a group of volunteer teachers called Speaking Chalk.

This voluntary group of 45 teachers have been spearheading a revolutionary concept in the school to teach spoken English and involve in personality development with more than 1,000 students from classes one to nine.

Pat for Speaking Chalk

Presenting the robot to the students, Shamini Murugesh, honorary chief mentor, WNS Cares Foundation, congratulated the efforts of the Speaking Chalk in bringing about a change in the lives of the students. She also had a brief introductory session with a few students interacting with Miko.

Sandhya Godey, founder of Speaking Chalk, said the students had shown remarkable progress in picking up English skills.

“We have also set up a scholarship fund of ₹1.8 lakh with the help of her friends and well-wishers, which could benefit 52 students of the school this year,” she added. Speaking Chalk volunteers take classes every Thursday in the school.

MP K. Hari Babu, who was the chief guest, said that ₹40 lakh was given to the school from his MPLAD funds towards building a conference hall. An additional amount was given towards 20 computers for the computer lab. He added that his priority was to use MPLAD funds for education, healthcare, and sanitation.

Source: The Hindu