VIJAYAWADA: In a major initiative to promote scientific temper and hands-on learning among government school students, the NTR district administration on Tuesday distributed innovative 'Genie Science Box' kits to 100 schools, enabling students to perform experiments in classrooms without relying solely on conventional laboratories. The event was organised jointly by the Andhra Pradesh Council of Science and Technology (APCOST), the School Education Department, Samagra Shiksha, LEAP, SCERT and Genie Science. While science laboratories are available in schools, the new portable science kits would particularly benefit students in rural areas by nurturing their interest in physics, chemistry and biology through practical experiments, he said. Each Genie Science Box enables students to perform around 40 experiments, stimulating curiosity, research aptitude and innovation, he said. Regional Joint Director of School Education G. Nagamani, District Educational Officer L. Chandrakala, Samagra Shiksha APC R. Ramesh Babu, Genie Science founder Pramod Kumar and other officials attended the programme.