The annual five-day workshop for higher secondary school children began at the NSS Higher Secondary School at Kaviyur near Thiruvalla on Tuesday.
Addressing the inaugural function, school principal V.R. Sobhanakumari said debates, studies and dialogues on different topics, cultural programmes and a film festival were the major attractions at the five-day workshop aimed at providing a different learning experience to the children at the school campus.
The programme is being organised in association with the Parent-Teacher Association.
Film fest
The workshop began with the film festival on Tuesday forenoon. A debate on cinema and a paper presentation on `contributions of Adoor Gopalakrishnan to Malayalam cinema’ by Dr B. Ravikumar of Malayalam department at Changanacherry NSS College was held prior to the screening of Mr Gopalakrishnan’s award-wining movie, `Elippathayam’.
Sidharth Siva, actor and an alumnae of the school, spoke on cinema, later, in the afternoon session. `Naalu Pennungal’, another classic movie by Adoor Gopalakrishnan, `Peruvazhiyambalam’, another award-winning cinema by Padmarajan and Sir Richard Attenburough’s popular film `Gandhi’ were also screened, later.
Tom P. Reju, associate film director, delivered a lecture on `combination of art, aesthetic and techniques in cinema’.
Literature
Dr George Onakkoor, renowned Malayalam literateur, will deliver the keynote address on literature on Wednesday forenoon.
Dr E.B. Sureshkumar attached to department of History at Changanacherry NSS Hindu College and Prof B. Madhavan Pillai, noted Hindi litterateur will also deliver lectures at different literary sessions to be held later.
Dr Saji Chacko, medical professional, will lead an interactive session first-aid, later, on Wednesday.
Mr Harish attached to Bio-informatics department at MACFAST, Thiruvalla, will deliver a lecture on `Bio-Informatics and new insights to the science of life’, later, in the afternoon.
Prof B.Balachandran attached to Mahatma Gandhi University School of Letters, Kottayam, will talk on `theatre’ and clinical psychologist, Grace Lal will lead a class on the `changing lifestyle and women’ on Thursday forenoon.
Debate on media
A debate on `Media in tune with the changing times’ will also be held on Thursday. Mr P.N.Suresh, executive director of Vasthu Vidya Gurukulam at Aranmula, Mr Shajan C.Mathew of Malayala Manorama daily and Mr Sudhish M.George of Matrubhumi daily will address the function.
Fr Jose Joseph, director of Mar Thoma Counselling Centre, Thiruvalla, will take a class on personality development, later.
A session for mathematics and science will be held on Friday.
Prof Mathew M.George of Thuruuthicaud BAM College will lead a class on `Why should I learn mathematics’ at 9 am.
V.Ratheeshkumar, research scholar in Nano Technology, will talk on `Nano Science and Technology – an overview’ and Dr George Alex of Kozhencherry St Thomas College will talk on `scientific aspects of global warming’.
Prof P.K.Madhusoodhanan Nair of Economics department at NSS Hindu College will lead a debate on ASEAN pact, later.
The five-day event will come to a close with a day-long workshop on folk arts on Saturday. C.J.Kuttappan, Kerala Folklore Academi chairman, C.J.Kuttappan, will lead the programme, `Poliyattom’, said R.Latha and C.K.Sureshkumar, organising committee leaders.
