KOLKATA: A question on UNESCO, another on India’s oldest IIT, and one on the ancient Nalanda centre of learning in Bihar set the tone for SPARK, an inter-school quiz competition organised by Teach For India Kolkata for students from low-income private, government and KMC schools.The competition was designed to give students a platform to showcase their curiosity, knowledge and talent beyond the classroom. Many of the participants come from communities where access to inter-school competitions and public platforms is limited. SPARK aimed to change that by creating a space where students could be seen, heard and celebrated, not only for what they know, but also for how they think, collaborate, question and respond.The prelims, held on Sept 17, saw participation from 18 schools across Kolkata. Eight schools qualified for the finals, which were held on Sept 26 at the Science City Convention Centre, Kolkata.The finals brought together students who displayed confidence, teamwork and quick thinking across multiple rounds. Professional quizmaster Prasenjit Rohan Guha conducted two rounds, while three rounds were conducted by Year 1 Fellows Aqsha Naimuddin, Rishuraj Mahato and Labib Baksh.Chetla Boys High School emerged as the winner of SPARK. Sir Syed Ahmed English Medium School secured the first runner-up position, while Daffodils High School – Circus Market was named second runner-up.Among the students who stood out was Shayan Jawed, a resident of Alipore, Kolkata. Coming from a humble background, Shayan’s father works as a delivery driver and his mother is a homemaker. With limited resources and access to information mainly through his mother’s phone, Shayan’s dedication and curiosity helped him perform strongly in the competition.Another participant, Imon Banerjee, from the Khidirpore–Mominpur area, also demonstrated consistent effort and enthusiasm for learning. His father works in an office, his mother is a homemaker, and he has a younger sister studying in Class 5.
