‘No Bag Day’ the joy of school going

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Dec 25, 2017: Schoolchildren in DK  district enjoyed going to school without carrying a bag and engaged themselves in various creative activities on Dec 23, Saturday.

 

Taking a cue from Uttar Pradesh, the Department of Public Instruction had issued a circular on starting ‘No Bag Day’ to introduce novelty in learning - a first-of-its-kind move in the state. The concept was formally launched in Dakshina Kannada..

SDDPI Shivaramaiah told media, “There is a feeling that teachers are meant only to teaching. Through ‘No Bag Day’, the gap between teachers and students will be reduced, students will be made to show interest in the process of learning.” The decision was taken at a meeting with ZP CEO Dr M R Ravi. The circular has been issued to all the 2,033 government, aided, and unaided schools, but without compulsion.

“The schoolchildren arrived in their uniforms, but with a difference. There were no formal classes. The five 45-minute periods were used for quiz, pick and speak, mock Parliament, debate, making artefacts from waste, making teaching models, using library and computer learning. Students danced, sang songs, engaged in drawing and took part in cleanliness drive,” said the DDPI and department officers.

“Interestingly, before the formal launch, nearly 50 schools in Sullia taluk had implemented the project  and the response was encouraging. Students in Sullia were made to revise what they learnt in the week in innovative ways. The activity-based learning is also a challenge for the teachers,” he said.

The department has also given schools the liberty to hold ‘No Bag Day’ for SSLC students.

Shivaramaiah said the Education Department officials from Chikkamagaluru, Chikkaballapur and Bagalkot have expressed happiness over the concept initiated in Dakshina Kannada.

At several places, the children in some schools were taken to nearby paddy fields and hospitals. A few schools in Dakshina Kannada have Christmas holidays from Saturday. The children in Moodapadukodi school carried out a jatha to spread the message on cleanliness in Irvathooru Gram Panchayat on the No Bag Day.

‘No Bag Day’ will be held on one Saturday in a month.