District-level talent centres, being started by the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for overall development of students belonging to marginalised sections, will start functioning next month.
The SSA’s plan is to start 87 such centres in the district centred around areas with Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Caste students, coastal belt, and various colonies in the city Corporation limits. Its first phase will be inaugurated on September 13 by Minister for Electricity M.M. Mani at the Kanjirampara lower primary school.
In general, the talent centres are aimed at identifying and promoting the talents of children belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, religious minorities, urban poor, and children of migrant workers. The centres, which will function in the evening hours on weekdays and on holidays, will help identify children’s latent talents and hone them, provide necessary support to improve their academic achievements, build their capabilities and develop their personality, and focus on aspects such as their health, sanitation and job-based skill training.
Programmes such as workshops, classes by experts, interviews, leadership training, and arts and sports training are envisaged to develop the skills of each student.
Stress will be laid on communication, and training given in speech and English and Hindi communication, besides conducting activities such as debates and discussions. Joint study, self-study, clearing of doubts, and study tours will be held in the area of academics. Going a step further, the centres will train the children in technology and involve them in social service activities.
The talent centre to be opened on September 13 at Kanjirampara lower primary school will focus on the large number of students there from a Scheduled Caste colony nearby. Four centres will be started in the tribal area of Kuttichal as per the demands of the local representatives. One will be in the Podiyam tribal settlement, one at Paruthipalli, another at Kottoor, and one at Malavila. One centre will start at Government Upper Primary School, Chala, targeting children in the Karimadom Colony, and another in the coastal area of Pozhiyoor.