Students spend 2 hours a week in library at this govt school in Udupi

UDUPI: The Government Higher Primary School at Nallur in Udupi district has built a library with a collection of more than 5,000 books. Students have to compulsorily spend 120 minutes a week, in the 'Odkoli' Library.
The headmaster of the school, Nagesh, said, "We have introduced several initiatives to ensure that the reading habit is inculcated at a young age. For birthdays, students are told not to distribute sweets, but to donate at least one book to the library. In the last three years, we have managed to collect books worth Rs 1 lakh.

Meanwhile, every child has to spend 120 minutes in the library during the week, that is for 40 minutes, thrice a week. They have to read a book, and each child gets an opportunity to make a presentation on the book, during the assembly.
The student has to inform the school as to why he chose the book, and why others should read the book, along with a gist of the book," he said.
Also, whenever the school gets a new book at the library, an announcement or 'dangoora' is made in the assembly, along with details about the book and its author. Students are also introduced to reading newspapers, and are made to pick and present only positive stories every day.
Out of the 40 minutes that students spend in the library, about 10 minutes is reserved for the children to use the computer. The school has three computers.
The library was developed with the support of Rotary Club and other donors. The school has 104 students studying in classes I to VII. On Saturday, a team of teachers and officials from Shikaripura, led by block education officer Shashidhar, visited the school to study its development, and also see if ideas and programmes could be implemented in schools there.
The team visited the Dhanwantari Aroygya Vana, a herbal garden developed on half-an-acre, and Parashurama Kuteera, which acts as an activity and centre of learning for traditional art and culture. Every Tuesday, students are taught Carnatic music at the Parashurama Kuteera, by music teacher Poornima Gore.