‘Government to Implement Talent Search Programme in State Schools’: Prof. C. Raveendranath

THRISSUR:
Emphasising the importance of art and cultural education in developing the creative impulse in children, Minister for Education Prof. C. Raveendranath announced the Kerala government’s intention to implement a ‘talent search’ programme across the state.
“Kerala has been allotted Rs two crore by the Union government to go towards start a talent search programme across all government schools in the state. The aim of the programme is to find new and hidden talents in our schools and groom them from a very young age – something similar to what the ‘Art by Children’ (ABC) is doing,” the minister said.
Lauding ABC for conducting workshops that use innovative techniques like storytelling, music and dance to engage children to participate in the art learning experience, Prof. Raveendranath said, “I have sought the support of ABC Programme Head Manu Jose for the talent search programme and he readily accepted my request.”
The minister was speaking at the closing ceremony of a three-day ABC workshop at Nandikkara Government Higher Secondary school in Puthukkad on Sunday.
A unique art education initiative run by the Kochi Biennale Foundation, ABC is powered by pharma major and official outreach partner Merck.
Prof. Raveendranath, who is also the MLA for Puthukkad constituency, was gifted with a painting by artist Priyaranjini P. at the function. Priyaranjini, a member of the ABC’s ‘Fine Arts’ facilitation team, conducted the workshop together with theatre performer Sarath Sabha.
About 50 students participated in the workshop, which ran from March 10-12. Each student was awarded certificates at the function.
Over the past few months, the ABC programme has conducted similar workshops, incorporating techniques from storytelling, fine arts, theatre and craft-making, across Kerala. It aims to reach out to 5,000 children and school teachers in 100 schools throughout the state’s 14 districts. Alrea
dy, the programme has seen participation from 4,000 students in nearly 90 schools.
“The ABC programme is a unique platform that provides an alternate space outside of school curriculum and homes for children to hone their artistic and creative talents. Besides schools, we have also held specially-themed workshops at Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2016,” Jose said.