INTACH organizes workshop on “Art Integrated Learning”

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 31: Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), a prominent organization working in the field of art, culture and heritage conservation organized a first of its kind workshop aimed at introducing art integrated learning and promoting education through creative arts in Jammu today.
Entitled “improving the quality of Education through Art Integrated Learning & Child Participation”, the workshop, which was organized in collaboration with the Department of School Education, J&K Government and the Department of Lifelong Learning, University of Jammu, saw an overwhelming participation of over 50 teachers from the Government schools of Jammu and Rajouri districts.
Dr. S.S. Bloeria, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Jammu presided over the inaugural function. Saleem Beg, convenor INTACH, J&K, M. K. Raina, eminent Theatre and Film Personality & Educator through Creative Art, Gulzar Ahmed Qureshi, Director School Education, Jammu, Anil Jain, State Coordinator Pedagogy, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Avinash Chander Aima, Principal State Institute of Education Jammu, Dr. Poonam Dhawan, Director DLL JU, Dr. Kavita Suri, Assistant Director, DLL, Altaf Hussain Co-Convener INTACH (J&K) and other faculty members of the department were also present at the inaugural function.
Giving a background of the Project, Saleem Beg, said that INTACH in collaboration with the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust is using the medium of art, theatre, creative writing and photography to enhance basic learning skills at primary level, up to class eight, in Government schools. The program is structured in the background of National Curriculum Framework, 2005 mandated by NCERT for the school system in the country.
In his address, Dr. S. S. Bloeria, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Jammu said that in 2005, the National Curriculum Framework laid down guiding principles to fight the fact that learning was becoming a source of burden and stress on children and their parents. The framework laid stress on connecting knowledge to life outside the school, ensuring that learning shifts away from routine methods and teaching enhancing children’s natural desire to learn.
M K Raina who spoke on “education through theater said, theatre helps improve skill of attention, retention and observation. In the afternoon session, a panel discussion on Art Integrated Learning was chaired by M.K. Raina.