CHILDREN WILL NOW STUDY THROUGH PUPPETS

CHILDREN WILL NOW STUDY THROUGH PUPPETS

19-JULY-ENG 15

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------Under the New Education Policy 2020, the way of teaching children is now changing. Now, along with books, children will also learn subjects like mathematics, science and environment with the help of puppets. This is not a stage experiment, but a well-planned initiative, in which traditional puppetry is being made a medium of teaching.

A national workshop was recently organized by the New Delhi-based CCRT (Center for Cultural Resources and Training), in which teachers selected from across the country were trained to teach through puppets. 11 teachers from Bihar participated in this workshop, including three female teachers from Bhojpur district, Pooja Kumari (Upgraded Middle School, Isadhi), Yashhika (NPS, Nayaka Tola) and Sunaina Kumari (Budhwal, Jagdishpur).

In the workshop, teachers were taught methods of puppet making, dialogue writing, story presentation and presenting various academic subjects in a dramatic style. They were told how the curiosity of children can be aroused through puppets and the subjects can be made more effective and memorable. Certificates were also provided to all the participants on completion of the training.

Pooja Kumari said that this method is a unique and lively means of communicating with children. Pooja says that "Now we will not be just teachers, but will become companions of children. We will take them towards understanding and feeling instead of rote learning." Pooja has recently been selected for the post of Principal Teacher and she will soon contribute to Jagwalia in Bhojpur.

This is the first time that puppetry has been formally made a part of the education system. Earlier this art was limited to folk tales and stage performances, but now it has crossed the threshold of the classroom. The basic objective of the new education policy is to promote understanding-based education, and this experiment can prove to be an important step in this.

The participation of these three teachers of Bhojpur shows that the change in education is not only happening on paper, but something new is taking shape on the ground as well. And in this, rural teachers are also playing an equal role.